Dion Dublin
Ex-Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 live

It's been a great start to this game with end-to-end action. Both teams are trying to do the right thing, but it's about concentration and not making mistakes.

Image source, AFP

Best chance of the game as Alan Dzagoev runs onto Yuri Gazinskiy's pass, but slips as he shoots and wins a corner.

Yahya Al Shehri chases the ball down the right, it looks like he'll end up winning a corner but Aleksandr Golovin defends well and it's a Russian throw-in.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder

Saudi Arabia can be nice on the ball but that plays into Russia's hands as it leaves open spaces. The signs are that Saudi Arabia like to over-play and can be caught in those areas.

A Saudi mistake gives the ball to Yuri Zhirkov, but his shot is blocked.

Anyone else surprised that ex-Chelsea man Zhirkov is still playing?

The corner is all the way across everyone and Saudi Arabia break.

Dion Dublin
Ex-Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Saudi Arabia play the game, they will not lift the ball above waist height and they will try to play total football. If Russia leave gaps, Saudi Arabia will exploit them.

But they have to be careful of not going too gung-ho because Russia will be patient and pick them off.

Russia break at pace - relatively speaking. Alan Dzagoev runs down the left and plays it across but Saudi Arabia end up clearing the ball before the hosts can get a shot in.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder

Everyone thinks this will be a dull affair but both sides will have to treat it as a must-win match and that could open things up.

Image source, Reuters

The Saudis have their first sort-of attack of the game - but they run out of steam and end up playing it back to their goalkeeper.

Keeper Abdullah Al-Mayoof, who was excellent in their friendly against Germany the other day, flies out of his box and just gets away with it.

About 50% of the 2018 World Cup has been played in the air so far.

Image source, AFP

Dion Dublin
Ex-Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Good job that was the first challenge otherwise he would've got a yellow card later in the game. Russia will have to be patient because there is a lot of energy in that Saudi side.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder

A good start from Russia, they are playing all of the football in the Saudi Arabia end.

Image source, Getty Images

Corner to Russia, as they send the big men forward but it's headed clear by captain Osama Hawsawi.

Russia have the first attack of the game but the Saudis get it clear.

The hosts have not won in seven games - fail to win today and it's their worst run of all time.

Saudi defender Omar Hawsawi concedes the first free-kick of the World Cup as he brings down Aleksandr Samedov.

The 2018 World Cup is... UNDER WAY.

I am dangerously cynical about everything but I love the World Cup. ONE MINUTE TO GO.

Image source, Reuters

No host nation has ever lost in their opening game of a World Cup tournament (W15 D6, including both Japan and South Korea in 2002).

National anthems time. Just remembered there won't be any Gianluigi Buffon belting out the Italian anthem this summer (or ever again).

:-(

Image source, AFP