Russia open World Cup with 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia
Hosts Russia opened the 2018 FIFA World Cup with a 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia in the first Group A fixture at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Thursday. This was Russia's first victory in the global tournament since their 2-0 win over Tunisia in the 2002 edition. Midfielder Yury Gazinsky scored the first goal of the 32-day-long tournament.