This year, World Cup finals will be opened with a group A match, host country, Russia, and Saudi Arabia at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium at 17:00. With this match, launches the stage of the groups of this long-awaited competition all over the globe.

Thursday’s match will be the only one of this day, which coincides with the opening ceremony, to continue with three group games every day until June 28th. Russia is automatically qualified as a organizer, and will make its fourth appearance in the final stage since 1990.

The best result of Saudi Arabia (Asian qualifications) in a World Cup was going up to 1/16 in 1994 and will hope for a better finish of this tournament. We are bringing you everything you need to know before the collision between the two parties, preceded by the opening ceremony of “Russia 2018”.

Russia does not boast a list of prominent players, so it will have to rely on emerging talent, such as Alexander Golovin, who is the most dangerous striker and 22-year-old. Aleksandr Kokorin misses the tournament due to injury and this is a blow to Russia as he would be the first striker.

Zhirkov, former Chelsea player, is close to completing his international career and, playing in his country, would be the perfect closure.
Russia’s possible formation: Akinfeev; Zhirkov, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Fernandes; Golovin, Anton Miranchuk, Zobnin, Samedov; Dzagoev, Smolov
The three leading players in Saudi Arabia are Al-Abed, Al-Muwall and Al-Shehri. Al-Abed scored five times in qualifying stages and remains the best star of Saudi Arabia at the final stage, while Al-Mulwall scored the goal that assured his nation’s participation in Russia. Al-Shehri offers more experience for his team, having been in nationality since 2009 and is only 27 years old. Possible formation of Saudi Arabia: Al-Muaiuf, Al-Burajk, Al-Boleahi, Hawsawi, Al-Harbi, Al-Faraj, Ali Khaibari, Kanno, Al-Jassim, Al-Shehri, Al-Sahlawi./Flashsport24