Moscow - Russia play Saudi Arabia in a Group A match in Moscow today.
Published: Thu 14 Jun 2018, 7:49 AM
Updated: Thu 14 Jun 2018, 1:36 PM
Coach Juan Antonio Pizzi said Saudi Arabia would play without fear on Thursday when they look to become the first team to inflict defeat on a host nation in the opening match of a World Cup.
Warm-up losses to Italy, Germany and Peru have not made for the best preparations for the Saudis as they chase a first victory in the World Cup finals since 1994 in their first appearance in the showpiece event since 2006.
The tournament hosts have had an even less auspicious build-up, however, and Pizzi said they would be looking to take the game to the Russians in the Group A match at the Luzhniki Stadium.
"We are ready, we are not afraid," the Argentine told a news conference.
"We are planning on being the protagonists and we will try to control (Russia's) virtues, which are many.
"Our goal is to beat Russia. We want to measure ourselves against the best teams in the world."
Saudi captain Osama Hawsawi said the warm-up defeats would simply not be relevant when the players took to the field to open "the most important sporting event".
"I don't think we should focus on our friendlies," he said. "What matters is tomorrow's game, because a World Cup game is very special and we want to give our best and we shall."
Hawsawi said a good start to the tournament was vital if the Saudis were to match the feat of the 1994 Falcons, who reached the round of 16 in the United States.
"I think we have to do our best and progressing to the next stage is not impossible," he added.
"There are so many unpredictable things in the World Cup. We are focused on the opening game, that will set the tone for the other games."
Saudi Arabia also play Uruguay and Egypt in Group A.
Russia vs Saudi Arabia
Russia play Saudi Arabia in a Group A match in Moscow on Thursday.
Where: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Capacity: 80,000
When: Thursday June 14, 1800 local (1600 BST/ 1100 ET)
Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argentina)
Key stats:
- Hosts Russia enter the World Cup as the lowest-ranked of the 32 teams participating in the tournament as they sit 70th in the FIFA rankings while Saudi Arabia are three spots above in 67th.
- Russia last progressed past the World Cup group stage in 1986, when they were part of the Soviet Union national team, while Saudi Arabia's sole appearance in the last-16 came in 1994. Since then they have lost seven and drawn two of their matches in three World Cups.
- Saudi Arabia won two warm-up matches before losing three in a row, the last being a 2-1 defeat by World Cup holders Germany.
- Russia last won an international match in October 2017, when they beat South Korea 4-2 in a friendly.
Previous meetings: The teams have played each other once before - in a friendly in 1993, with Saudi Arabia winning 4-2.
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