A surprisingly positive performance from Russia so far.

Saudi Arabia really need to do something early now in this half!

Saudi Arabia really need to do something early now in this half!

 

I think its curtains now - they're not going to be able to even claw back a draw.

 

Although given how easily Saudia Arabia are giving away the ball wouldn't surprise me if it was Russian interference :lol:

Edited June 14, 20187 yr by ElectroBoy

And they didn't.

 

An instant impact from the Russia sub.

Poor Saudi :( I guess they were lucky to make the finals anyway.

Unless they've received a concession from the authorities, the Saudi players will still be observing Ramadan. It will be over in time for their remaining two matches.

The Saudis are always hilariously awful at the World Cup but I really thought this would be different for them. Shoddy work and fair play to the Russians, that'll restore some host confidence. They've probably got a round of 16 run in them now.

So um, rekt.

Difficult to tell if that means Russia should be taken more seriously as a genuine threat or that SA are just there to make up the numbers.

Saudi Arabia made Russia look like 2011 Barcelona in that match! An absolutely abysmal performance from them, that free kick at the end was quality though. Russia Vs Egypt will be interesting, the winner of that match will have a very strong chance of making it to the knockout stage.

Haha, yeah we'll see when Russia takes on Egypt, that's the real match of this group. Russia just took the energy of opening night and an inferior opponent and ran with it.

Saudi Arabia have a knack of conceding a lot of goals at the World Cup. They conceded 12 goals in 3 matches at the 2002 World Cup which included an 8-0 defeat to Germany. They've finished bottom of their group in multiple World Cups, They're definitely here to make up the numbers.

Oh no, poor Saudi. I thought they may have actually ran Russia quite close given neither are obvious favourites but wasn't to be, I have them in my family sweepstake so this wasn't the best start :lol: Good game from Russia in all fairness, the later matches in this group will see if this whether it's genuine or if they just wanted to look the best on their opening.

Saudi Arabia have a knack of conceding a lot of goals at the World Cup. They conceded 12 goals in 3 matches at the 2002 World Cup which included an 8-0 defeat to Germany. They've finished bottom of their group in multiple World Cups, They're definitely here to make up the numbers.

 

Shouldn’t have been relevant because the teams are completely different but with most of their players in their domestic league and used to the rather weak Asian competition, their situation is pretty bad for producing players that match up to European sides.

 

The generational continuation of their embarrassing legacy is amusing though. As it goes for Asian teams that aren’t SK, Japan or Iran and sometimes even them. The continent needs to sort itself out.

Didn't Saudi do alright in qualifying? God help the rest of the Asian teams if so. Russia are not even that good.

Didn't Saudi do alright in qualifying? God help the rest of the Asian teams if so. Russia are not even that good.

They did a good deal better than Qatar who will, of course, be hosting the thing next time.

I fear it will get much worse for Saudi when they play Egypt and Uruguay.

 

 

Egypt v Uruguay has been woeful so far. Let's hope it remains the worst match of the tournament.

Uruguay are never really a particularly exciting side and they've been keeping the Egypt team well contained, but then they're being countered by the Egyptians surprisingly well on the other half. So a 0-0.

Gimenez in the 89th minute. 1-0 Uruguay.

Edited June 15, 20187 yr by DJHazey