After all the run down and negativity in the Russian press about the national team being the poorest Russian team ever, but the team rose up to the task and delivered at the biggest stage of all.
The national team was under a great pressure to perform at this world cup as a host nation, no one think or expect anything from the team since they have not won any match in a while and the whole nation is not really expecting anything much from the team but the team had something else up their sleeves. 
Saudi started on a front foot with early pressure but the Russians were patient and took the game to them very quickly. Aleksandr Golovin crossed a beautiful ball from the back post for Gazinsky to score the first goal of the 2018 FIFA world cup.
Before the break Golovin broke free, released Roman Zobnin, who set up substitute Denis Cheryshev to score a superb second goal with a wonderful skill. 
In the second half, Golovin was again a standout player for the home side, he looked a class above the pitch. It was his pinpoint cross that found the head of Artem Dzyuba who made it 3-0. Saudis are out of it at this stage but still more to come from the Russians.
Dzyuba also dazzled the Saudis before setting up Cheryshev to curl home a magnificent and stunning finish with the outside of his foot to make Russian 4 goals up.
Golovin then scored his own great goal and Russia’s fifth in stoppage time with a perfect free kick from 20 yards out to the delight of the Russian president watching from the stand. The president raised his arm as if he was saying ; i told you’.
Russian fans inside the Luzhniki Stadium went completely wild and the party gets started for the evening. Great day for Russian football, they have put themselves in a good position to progress beyond the group stage.