Dream start for hosts

Russia launched the World Cup in emphatic style yesterday when they outclassed a feeble Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament’s opening match to end a nine-month winless run and give the host nation’s team and fans the lift they desperately needed.

Substitute Denis Cheryshev scored twice - the first after a piece of skill that would have graced a Lionel Messi highlights reel - and the second a superb shot in stoppage time.

Yury Gazinsky had headed the World Cup’s first goal after 12 minutes, Artem Dzyuba got the third a minute after coming on as a 70th-minute substitute and Aleksandr Golovin completed a memorable day by smashing in free kick with the last action of the game.