England

Even though England's opening game is kicking off at 21:00 local time on Monday (19:00 BST), a temperature of 24C is forecast in Volgograd.

But speaking at today's England news conference, Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier insists the Three Lions can handle the heat.

"Obviously it will play a part, we have got to be aware of it and do what we have been doing," he said. "It won’t affect our game, we will go there and get the win."

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

Image source, .

The opening round of games at World Cups are generally quite tight - there is a bit of tension there and nobody wants to lose, least of all the hosts.

Russia are not a particularly good side, but then neither are Saudi Arabia, and I think home advantage will see them through this game - and get them out of the group too, which will be good for the tournament as a whole.

Prediction: 2-0 to Russia

Check out Lawro's predictions for each opening group game here

Roberto Mancini, who managed in Russia until last month, says the World Cup hosts can have a good tournament.

Mancini managed Zenit St Petersburg until being made Italy boss in May. He told BBC Radio 5 live: "They have good players.

"It's not easy for them because there is a lot of pressure at this moment but I think that they can have a good World Cup."

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Dion Dublin said: "It is an amazing atmosphere here and I cannot wait to see this stadium full and bouncing."

Former England striker Alan Shearer said: "Coming on the train and walking to the stadium, we saw fans with different colour shirts on, having a laugh and a smile with each other. It was great to see."

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport in Moscow

It is all loud cheers and masses of enthusiasm right now as Russia come out to warm-up. This could theoretically be the high point of their World Cup.

Plenty of people in their seats already and there is a very cosmopolitan feel to the event. There are shirts from all over the world as fans congregate here in the capital before, presumably, heading of all over this country to watch their teams in action.

The tannoy is working. Too well.

Image source, EPA

Stanislav Cherchesov took over as Russia boss after Euro 2016, having previously managed in Austria, Russia and Poland.

The 54-year-old former goalkeeper was in his country's 1994 and 2002 World Cup squads.

Juan Antonio Pizzi is the Saudi Arabia boss, but he is not the man who led them to the World Cup.

Bert van Marwijk - who is now the Australia boss - left after the qualifiers. Edgardo Bauza replaced him - and was then sacked after five friendlies and replaced in November by Pizzi.

Former Barcelona striker Pizzi, 50, led Chile to 2016 Copa America glory.

BBC Monitoring
The world through its media

Image source, ,

The Saudi national telecommunication company (STC) has published a video in support of the Saudi national football team ahead of the World Cup.

The video features the song, "O Saudi", written by the prominent head of the General Sports Authority (GSA), Turki Al al-Sheikh and sang by well-known Saudi singer Rabeh Saqer.

The music video, external was posted on 12 June and has been viewed over 200,000 times on YouTube so far.

The video shows snippets from the team training and playing against other teams. Between these scenes, individual players in the team are shown one by one, next to an image of the Saudi flag.

The video also shows Saudis raising their flag and cheering for the team. In contrast to usual practice, close ups of women cheering on the team are also seen.

"One two, green. O Saudi, you will be victorious", the song's chorus says.

Image source, EPA

Brazil-born Mario Fernandes is the first player born outside the old Soviet Union to play for Russia - via a presidential decree from president Vladimir Putin.

The 27-year-old, who plays for CSKA Moscow, has won five caps.

He actually won one Brazil cap, back in 2014 - in a friendly against Japan.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Sergei Ignashevich is Russia's most capped player - with 123 appearances.

The 38-year-old CSKA Moscow defender retired from international football after Euro 2016 but was persuaded to come back following injuries to several Russian defenders.

We're just working our way through Saudi Arabia's line-up now...

Russia brought 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich out of international retirement last month because of a number of defensive injuries and he starts.

Former Chelsea left-back Yuri Zhirkov is also in the 11 named by boss Stanislav Cherchesov.

Striker Fyodor Smolov and the seemingly ageless Alan Dzagoev are likely to be their goal threats.

Image source, .

Paul Fletcher
BBC Sport in Moscow

Fans have steadily been arriving in the capital all week and it would be fair to say they have given the city a distinctly Latino feel.

Wander around Red Square and you will see plenty of fans from Argentina, Peru, Mexico and Colombia in particular. The other day they seemed to be involved in a mass sing-off. Each nation spread 10 yards apart from the next, the noise levels getting higher and higher.

Humberto (right) and his friend have from Colombia to watch the tournament. Humberto is from Manizales in the coffee growing region of the country and is really getting into the spirit of spreading the message about how great his country is.

His friend did explain what his flag was all about but I had to file that one away under lost in translation.

BBC Radio 5 live commentator Conor McNamara is at it again with his gadgets.

Russia midfielder Aleksandr Samedov has labelled the opening game of the tournament as "the biggest event of our lives".

The hosts have not won a match since last October and are desperate to get off on the right foot in front of their fans.

"We are ready. The opening game of a home World Cup is going to be the biggest match of my life, for sure," said the Spartak Moscow player, 33.

"We've learned about Saudi Arabia, we know that they like to keep the ball and are a technical team.

"We've got our plan for how to succeed against them."

Image source, Reuters

Former Arsenal and Russia playmaker Andrey Arshavin gives us his guide to the 2018 Fifa World Cup's host nation, and plans to take BBC pundit Cesc Fabregas to a Moscow nightclub during the competition.

We should be getting team news in a few minutes time.

I won't blame you if you don't know many of the players - only two out of the 46 players in the squads play outside their own country.

But that's half the fun of a World Cup, isn't it?