Russia v Saudi Arabia: World Cup opening match – live!

How well do you know your World Cup opening games? With an hour to go until kick-off, take our quiz to find out.

Yes, yes ... we’re putting the hand out again, And yes, it’s tedious. But whatever about the dreary output that will be churned out by assorted colleagues of mine over the next few weeks, informative and amusing minute-by-minute reports like this don’t come cheap. You won’t read many more appeals for cash than the one below penned by Barney. Read it, weep with laughter and then contribute. His kids need shoes.

While Russia were forced to leave Zenit St Petersburg striker Alexander Kokorin and defenders Georgy Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow) and Viktor Vasin (CSKA Moscow) out of their squad due to knee injuries, the 23 players they do have at their disposal are fully fit. Saudi Arabia manager Juan Antonio Pozzi also has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Speaking to Arab News earlier this week, the Saudi Arabia manager revealed how his team would be setting out their stall. “I like to press high up the park and put the opponents under pressure,” he said. “Take the ball to the offensive line and get into a situation where we can score. Sometimes that happens and other times it is not very effective, but that’s the general objective.”

Talking ahead of today’s big kick-off, the Russian winger had this to say: “The motivation for these tournaments is special. Every day you try to work at your maximum level. I already know what a World Cup is all about and how intense it is. It’s the highest stage you can play on.

“I’m staying calm in my preparations because psychology is an important factor too, although the pressure is there. It’s our home World Cup and we’re kick-starting the tournament. The whole world will be watching us.”

Argentina’s Nestor Pitana has been given the honour of blowing the first whistle of this summer’s World Cup. He will be assisted by compatriots Juan Pablo Bellati and Hernan Maidana, with Sandro Ricci from Brazil designated as the fourth official.

The Video Assistant Referee team is composed by Massimiliano Irrati of Italy (VAR); Mauro Vigliano of Argentina (AVAR 1); Carlos Astroza of Chile (AVAR2) and Daniele Orsato, Italy (AVAR3).

Pitana is one of South America’s most experienced referees and this is his second consecutive World Cup. He made his debut in the Argentinian league in 2007 and officiated his first international match in 2010. At Brazil 2014, he oversaw four fixtures including France-Germany in the quarterfinals.

Pitana returned to Brazil in 2016 for the Olympic Football Tournament where he was the man in the middle for the semi-final between Germany and Nigeria. A year later in 2017, he was involved in another semi-final, in the Confederations Cup between Germany and Mexico.