MOSCOW: Host country Russia got off to a dream start, subduing Saudi Arabia, 5-0, in the 2018 International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) World Cup opening game at the Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday night here (early Friday in Manila).

The Sbornaya came out with guns blazing as it delivered a dazzling performance in front of Russian president Vladimir Putin and the home crowd consisting the bulk of 78,011 fans in attendance.

It was sort of a revenge for the Russians, with their previous encounter back in a 1993 international friendly favoring the Saudi Arabians, 2-4.

Russia also snapped a seven-game losing skid in emphatic fashion, posting the second biggest win by a host nation in its maiden World Cup match.

Iury Gazinskiy netted the first goal of the World Cup’s 21st edition, heading home a lovely cross from Aleksandr Golovin in the 12th minute.

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HOST VICTORY Russia’s forward Artem Dzyuba celebrates after scoring their third goal during the 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. AFP PHOTO

Alan Dzagoev’s injury paved the way for the entry of Denis Cheryshev, who beat three defenders inside the box then fired from a tight angle to double the cushion shortly before halftime.

With his goal, Cheryshev became the first substitute to score in a World Cup opener.

The Russians enjoyed a commanding 3-0 lead in the 67th, when another substitute in Artem Dzyuba nodded in another nifty cross from Golovin.

Cheryshev completed a brace with a chip shot in the added time before Golovin turned into a scorer right at the death, closing their rousing debut with a curling free kick.

“There are no words to express what I’m feeling right now,” said Cheryshev, who was recalled to the Russia squad in March after an absence of more than two years.

“I could never have dreamed of anything like this. I felt very happy when I knew I would be here in the squad but I never dreamed of anything like this. I’m happy we’ve won but we shouldn’t stop there,” he added.

The Russians’ blowout victory meant that a host has not lost an opening tiff in the world’s top football tilt.

Russia, ranked a lowly 70th in the world–three places below Saudi Arabia–knows victory in its first match is vital, with tougher games against Egypt and Uruguay to come.

Participants of the 6th Gazprom Football For Friendship (F4F) International Programme were also able to witness the opening day of this year’s World Cup.

‘Love for football unites us’

Putin officially declared the tournament open.

After a performance from British pop star Robbie Williams, Putin told the crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium: “I congratulate all of you at the start of the most important championship in the world.”

“Love for football unites the entire world in one team, regardless of people’s language or ideology,” Putin said to thunderous cheers from the capacity crowd.

Russia is spending more than $13 billion (11 billion euros) on hosting football’s showpiece, the most important event in the country since the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics.

The buildup to the tournament has been dogged by controversy and diplomatic scandals and has shone a light on the challenges facing the country.

On the day of the curtain raiser, Russia freed the main opposition figure to Putin, Alexei Navalny, from jail after he served a 30-day sentence for organizing an illegal protest.

But British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell was arrested for holding a one-man protest against the country’s record on gay rights, hours before kick-off.

The World Cup favorites–Germany, Spain, France, Brazil–enter the fray from Friday onwards.

Hearts and minds

The money lavished on the tournament will boost Putin’s already sky-high prestige at home by giving many of the 11 host cities their first facelifts in generations.

Cities such as Saransk were sleepy outposts with decaying buildings until the World Cup reconstruction put them firmly in the 21st century.

The tournament also offers Putin a chance to project Russia as a global player that is accepted and respected even while being at odds with the United States.

He is attempting to do so despite Russia being hit by international sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014.

Putin hopes the most-watched event on the planet provides Russia with the “soft power” needed to capture a sceptical world’s hearts and minds.

WITH AFP