Russia v Saudi Arabia - Match Thread

[Jaspa]

The day is actually here, the one we've all been waiting for, Russia v Saudi Arabia!

 

Both teams are decidedly terrible but each have a smattering of talent, Saudi born Omar Abdulrahman has been described as Asia's secret Lionel Messi but instead actually plays for UAE and Russia's Alan Dzagoev was being touted as the new Leo Messi as far back as EURO 2012 . . . . that's all I really know about them.

 

Russia haven't won in their last five games losing three but three of those five teams were Brazil, Spain & France. Saudi Arabia have won two of their last five but have lost the last three to Italy, Peru & Germany but beat Greece & Algeria. As we've seen with competition football before though, when it all kicks off it's a completely different game.

 

I'm not at all fussed about the opening ceremony, when it's produced by FIFA & whatever other sponsor to roll out Pitbull or whoever to sing something god awful, not for me.

 

So let's start this of with something Russian instead eh,

 

Kicks off at 4pm lads

Edited 14 June 2018 by SpazticChicken

[Izzy]

There’ll be tens of thousands of us taken the afternoon off work for this 

[Detroit Blues]

The Saudis had a good showing against Germany in their last friendly, but I am not sure how much you can actually read into that. I wish the opening match was against Egypt. That's the game that will decide who gets out of the group IMO.

[David Guiza]

Got Russia as one of my two teams in the sweepstake (the other being Argentina). There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and the mutually agreed worst team so I'm hoping they get walloped.

 

Be interesting if it came down to a FIFA bribe as to whom would win between Putin and the Saudis. 

[StanSP]

15 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

There’ll be tens of thousands of us taken the afternoon off work for this 

Afternoon off? Pfft. Find a job where you can work from home mate

[goose2010]

The Russian people feel their side is the worst in the last 40 years! could see an upset this afternoon!

[RoboFox]

18 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

There’ll be tens of thousands of us taken the afternoon off work for this 

 

2 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Afternoon off? Pfft. Find a job where you can work from home mate

 

Or a job where you can watch it all at work, like me! 

[Kitchandro]

Could be a bit embarrassing for the Russians. Maybe home advantage and most importantly the referees will carry them through. I’m expecting some extremely dodgy decisions in their favour.

 

They have to win this game though. I wouldn’t be surprised by a 0-0.

[Footballwipe]

33 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

There’ll be tens of thousands of us taken the afternoon off work for this 

Leaving work at 2pm like millions of others to make the build up and opening game. Anyone not doing the same just doesn't love football.

 

Looking forward to a potential shock, even though the Saudi's are ranked above Russia. A cracking game required to get the tournament off to a flyer!

[foxy boxing]

The organisers and FIFA will want a pretty easy home win for the Russians. I won't be Russian home to watch this one.

[ealingfox]

Got a few quid on there being a penalty in the match.

[Finnegan]

Isn't Omar from the UAE? 

[Jaspa]

2 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

Isn't Omar from the UAE? 

 

ffs you're right. It says he was born in Saudi Arabia but plays for the UAE

[Finnegan]

Just now, SpazticChicken said:

 

ffs you're right. It says he was born in Saudi Arabia but plays for the UAE

 

 

Shame, it'd be cool to see him play at a tidy level. He always crops up in these wanky articles about like YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM BUT HE'S AWESOME AMAGAD. 

 

But it's been going on for years. Either the Emirates are paying him unbelievable cheddar cheese or he's just not actually that good beyond being able to do some freestyle skills. 

 

I'm sure if he was that good, one of the major Emirati owned European teams would have snapped him up. 

[kingfox]

Probably 0-0 or one of them will snatch a 1-0, viewers will fall sleep and everyone will be calling it the worst opening game in World Cup history.

 

Golovin for Russia is the player to watch.

Edited 14 June 2018 by kingfox

[Jaspa]

2 minutes ago, kingfox said:

Probably 0-0 or one of them will snatch a 1-0, viewers will fall sleep and everyone will be calling it the worst opening game in World Cup history.

 

Golovin for Russia is the player to watch.

 

 

Is that the next new Leo Messi we've not heard of(yet)?

 

This is what happened when the real Lionel Messi met Saudi Arabia

[Finnegan]

Golovin is pretty much Russia'only tidy player. 

 

He's been linked to English clubs a few times. 

[Izzy]

I thought Golovin was a boxer 

[Jaspa]

1 minute ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

I thought Golovin was a boxer 

 

Yeah, GGG. Though tbh I always thought of that as something else

 

Don't google it kids

[RoboFox]

ITV played a blinder with their opening credit VT. Stunning.

Edited 14 June 2018 by RoboFox

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

59 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

 

Shame, it'd be cool to see him play at a tidy level. He always crops up in these wanky articles about like YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF HIM BUT HE'S AWESOME AMAGAD. 

 

But it's been going on for years. Either the Emirates are paying him unbelievable cheddar cheese or he's just not actually that good beyond being able to do some freestyle skills. 

 

I'm sure if he was that good, one of the major Emirati owned European teams would have snapped him up. 

 

He was great in the Asian cup a few years ago when the UAE had a decent tournament. But you're right, definitely would've thought someone in Europe would've taken him on by now if he was *that* good.

[Turbogre]

Saudi's are ranked above Russia.

 

Saudi win 2-0

 

 

[Jaspa]

 

VS

 

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

2 minutes ago, SpazticChicken said:

 

 

I'd have had عبدالله الخياري in for مهند عسيري but otherwise no surprises

[Dan]

They're on about England... "so who will get the goals if Kane isn't scoring" and they all, with a straight face mentioned Rashford and Welbeck but not Vardy?

 

I've tried to avoid the whole nonsense about our players and England but it's really weird.