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#1 In the context of Group A
Russia made the most commanding statement possible in their opening fixture of the World Cup. The added pressure of having to play in front of their own crowd could've proved to be a little too much to deal with, as has been evident from the grim coverage surrounding the home team in the Russian media.
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On the night though, they did turn up. Russia totally dismantled the visitors in both halves of the game. A late flourish, in the end, meant that Russia ended with a tally of goals that was, honestly speaking, a little flattering. They more than deserved the win, but five goals without reply wasn't exactly a fair reflection of the game.
However, a start as dominant as this means that the hosts have more than cleared the first obstacle to their progress to the next round. Next up, they've got to overcome their biggest obstacle to that knockout round berth: Mo Salah's Egypt, and hope they don't get thrashed at the hands of Uruguay.
Things are looking up for the home country!
How far do you think Russia will go in this World Cup? Tell us in the comments below!
