10 Unmissable Group Stage Fixtures At World Cup 2018

10. Russia Vs. Saudi Arabia (June 14)

On paper, Russia vs. Saudi Arabia isn't the most tantalising fixture in the history of international football, but this is the tournament's opening game, and those are always worth a watch. Not only do we get to enjoy the added tension and excitement of seeing the home nation taking to the field, but there'll also be all the pre-game festivities and celebrations to officially declare the tournament underway at Moscow's beautiful Luzhniki Stadium.

These two sides have only met once before, way back in 1993 for a friendly that actually saw Saudi Arabia storm out to a 4-2 win. Fans would love to see such an entertaining game kick off the 2018 World Cup, but we can probably expect this clash to be more of a cagey affair, with both sides keen not to lose their first game.

The pressure will definitely be on the Russians in this one, which could allow the Saudi Arabian side to play with a little more freedom. Past tournaments have seen some exciting opening clashes, like when Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 in 2006 or Brazil's 3-1 win over Croatia at the last World Cup, so let's hope for another intense first game.