The 2018
World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 14, 2018 with a Group A fixture between
host nation Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
It would be
the only match for the day to coincide with the opening ceremony, with three
group stage fixtures taking place each day until June 28.
Russia
qualified automatically as the host and will be making their fourth appearance
at the finals since 1990.
For the
Asian Champions, Saudi Arabia, their best result at a World Cup was finishing
in the last 16 in 1994.
Here are all
you need to know ahead of the clash between the two sides which kicks off at
4pm.
Game :
Russia vs Saudi Arabia
Date :
Thursday, June 14
Time: 4pm
In Nigeria,
the match will shown on DSTV Supersports channels and GOTV sports channels.
In the
United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on ITV or streamed live
online using the ITV Player.
Team news:
Russia don’t
have a standout players. So they will have to rely on the emerging talents of
Aleksandr Golovin, who is their most dangerous attacking player and aged just
22.
They have
also included ex-Chelsea full-back Zhirkov who is s nearing the end of his
international career.
Potential
Russia XI: Akinfeev; Zhirkov, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Fernandes; Golovin,
Kuzyayev, Zobnin, Samedov; Dzagoev, Smolov
For the
Saudi Arabians, they parade three key men in the likes of Al-Abed, Al-Muwall
and Al-Shehri.
Al-Abed
scored five goals in the qualification stages and remains to be Saudi Arabia’s
top-scorer en route to the finals.
Potential
Saudi Arabia XI: Al-Muaiouf, Al-Burayk, Al-Boleahi, Hawsawi, Al-Harbi,
Al-Faraj, Ali-Khaibari, Kanno, Al-Jassim, Al-Shehri, Al-Sahlawi
Comments