Daily Times

MOSCOW: The World Cup kicked off in Russia on Thursday as years of preparations dogged by diplomatic scandals gave way to a month-long feast of action on the field. Russia got the ball rolling against Saudi Arabia at the completely refurbished 80,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow after an opening ceremony attended by President Vladimir Putin. On the day of the curtainraiser, Russia freed the main opposition figure to Putin, Alexei Navalny, from jail after he served a 30-day sentence for organising an illegal protest. Russia is spending more than $13 billion (11 billion euros) on hosting football´s showpiece, the most important event in the country since the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics.

Brazil and their superstar Neymar are seeking a sixth global crown while Germany, who won their fourth World Cup in Brazil four years ago, will be determined to draw level with the Brazilians when the final is played in Moscow on July 15. France boast possibly the most talented squad while Lionel Messi is desperate to make amends for Argentina´s defeat in the 2014 final. Putin was keen to attract the tournament to Russia to show its modern face, but in the run-up the country´s problems – from racism and hooliganism to a foreign policy sharply at odds with the West – have been exposed and scrutinised. Britain and some eastern European states formerly under Soviet rule tried to organise a diplomatic boycott over the poisoning in England of a former Russian double agent. British royals and government members will not attend in protest but a wider boycott effort fizzled out. “We would like to underscore the validity of the FIFA principle of sport being outside politics,” Putin told a meeting of football´s governing body FIFA on Wednesday. “Russia has always adhered to this principle,” he said.

Hearts and minds: The money lavished on the tournament will boost Putin´s already sky-high prestige at home by giving many of the 11 host cities their first facelifts in generations. Cities such as Saransk were sleepy outposts with decaying buildings until the World Cup reconstruction put them firmly in the 21st century. The tournament also offers Putin a chance to project Russia as a global player that is accepted and respected even while being at odds with the United States. He is attempting to do so despite Russia bearing the brunt of international sanctions that began after its invasion of Ukraine´s Crimea in 2014. Moscow´s military backing of Bashar al-Assad´s regime in Syria and alleged meddling in the 2016 US election on President Donald Trump´s behalf only deepened its worst rift with the West since the Cold War.

Putin hopes the most-watched event on the planet provides Russia with the “soft power” needed to capture a sceptical world’s hearts and minds. Navalny, who was barred from challenging Putin in March’s presidential election, tweeted after his release: “I’m with you again after a 30-day business trip. I’m so happy to be free.”

Racism and riots: Russian authorities have gone to great lengths to ensure nothing soils the country´s image. The bloody beating English fans took from nearly 200 Russian thugs at Euro 2016 in France has influenced preparations as much as any diplomatic dispute. Neo-Nazi hooligans who organise mass fights in forests and chant racist slurs at players have been a feature of Russian stadiums for years. The anti-discrimination network Fare said Russia´s football federation was making matters worse by punishing those who reacted to racist abuse “while ignoring the perpetrators”. Security services have either locked up or checked in on hundreds to make sure they do nothing to tarnish Russia´s image. The scare tactics have worked. Some football gang members say they will be leaving town once the games begin to avoid getting rounded up and Russia refused to issue tickets to nearly 500 of supporters with hooligan links.

Field of dreams: On the field, Russia and the Saudis do not represent the most glamorous opener – they are the two lowest-ranked teams in the tournament. The host nation have broken Russian and Soviet records by going winless in seven matches and dropping to 70th in the world, meaning no World Cup coach faces as much pressure as Stanislav Cherchesov. “We have to take all the criticism and turn it into something positive,” Cherchesov said. The preparations of 2010 winners Spain are in tatters after coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked just two days before their opening game on Friday against Portugal. He had angered his federation by taking the job of Real Madrid manager. While Neymar, the world´s most expensive player, has recovered from a broken bone in his foot in time, the strength of prolific Egypt striker Mohamed Salah´s injured shoulder is less certain. And the preparations of Argentina and Messi were jolted by a scandal over their cancellation of a controversial friendly with Israel in Jerusalem.

Today’s matches:
Egypt vs Uruguay (Group A) – Ekaterinburg – 5:00 pm (PST)
Morocco vs Iran (Group B) – St Petersburg – 8:00 pm (PST)
Portugal vs Spain (Group B) – Sochi – 1:00 pm (PST)

WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Group stages

Friday 15 June

Egypt vs Uruguay (Group A) – Ekaterinburg – 5:00 pm (PST)

Morocco vs Iran (Group B) – St Petersburg -8:00 pm (PST)

Portugal vs Spain (Group B) – Sochi – 1:00 pm (PST)

Saturday 16 June

France vs Australia (Group C) – Kazan – 3:00 pm (PST)

Argentina vs Iceland (Group D) – Moscow (Spartak) – 6:00 pm (PST)

Peru vs Denmark (Group C) – Saransk – 9: 00 pm (PST)

Croatia vs Nigeria (Group D) – Kaliningrad – 12: 00 am (PST)

Sunday 17 June

Costa Rica vs Serbia (Group E) – Samara – 5:00 pm (PST)

Germany vs Mexico (Group F) – Moscow (Luzhniki) – 8:00 pm (PST)

Brazil vs Switzerland (Group E) – Rostov-on-Don -11:00 pm (PST)

Monday 18 June

Sweden vs South Korea (Group F)-Nizhny Novgorod – 5:00 pm (PST)

Belgium vs Panama (Group G)-Sochi – 8:00 pm (PST)

Tunisia vs England (Group G)-Volgograd – 11:00 pm (PST)

Tuesday 19 June

Colombia vs Japan (Group H)-Saransk-5:00 pm (PST)

Poland vs Senegal (Group H)-Moscow (Spartak) -8:00 pm (PST)

Russia vs Egypt (Group A)-St Petersburg-11:00 pm (PST)

Wednesday 20 June

Portugal vs Morocco (Group B)-Moscow (Luzhniki) -5:00 pm (PST)

Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (Group A)-Rostov-on-Don-8:00 pm (PST)

Iran vs Spain (Group B)-Kazan-11:00 pm (PST)

Thursday 21 June

Denmark vs Australia (Group C)-Samara- 5:00 pm (PST)

France vs Peru (Group C)-Ekaterinburg- 8:00 pm (PST)

Argentina vs Croatia (Group D)-Nizhny Novgorod-11:00 pm (PST)

Friday 22 June

Brazil vs Costa Rica (Group E)-St Petersburg-5:00 pm (PST)

Nigeria vs Iceland (Group D)-Volgograd-8:00 pm (PST)

Serbia vs Switzerland (Group E)-Kaliningrad-11:00 pm (PST)

Saturday 23 June

Belgium vs Tunisia (Group G)-Moscow (Spartak) -5:00 pm (PST)

South Korea vs Mexico (Group F)-Rostov-on-Don-8:00 pm (PST)

Germany v Sweden (Group F)-Sochi-11:00 pm (PST)

Sunday 24 June

England vs Panama (Group G)-Nizhny Novgorod- 5:00 pm (PST)

Japan vs Senegal (Group H)-Ekaterinburg- 8:00 pm (PST)

Poland vs Colombia (Group H)-Kazan-11:00 pm (PST)

Monday 25 June

Uruguay vs Russia (Group A)-Samara-7:00 pm (PST)

Saudi Arabia vs Egypt (Group A)-Volgograd-7:00 pm (PST)

Spain vs Morocco (Group B)-Kaliningrad-11:00 pm (PST)

Iran vs Portugal (Group B)-Saransk-11:00 pm (PST)

Tuesday 26 June

Denmark vs France (Group C)-Moscow (Luzhniki) – 7:00 pm (PST)

Australia vs Peru (Group C)-Sochi- 7:00 pm (PST)

Nigeria vs Argentina (Group D)-St Petersburg- 11:00 pm (PST)

Iceland vs Croatia (Group D)-Rostov-on-Don- 11:00 pm (PST)

Wednesday 27 June

South Korea vs Germany (Group F)-Kazan- 7:00 pm (PST)

Mexico vs Sweden (Group F)-Ekaterinburg- 7:00 pm (PST)

Serbia vs Brazil (Group E)-Moscow (Spartak-)- 11:00 pm (PST)

Switzerland vs Costa Rica (Group E)-Nizhny Novgorod- 11:00 pm (PST)

Thursday 28 June

Japan vs Poland (Group H)-Volgograd- 7:00 pm (PST)

Senegal vs Colombia (Group H)-Samara- 7:00 pm (PST)

England vs Belgium (Group G)-Kaliningrad- 11:00 pm (PST)

Panama vs Tunisia (Group G)-Saransk- 11:00 pm (PST)

Round of 16

Saturday 30 June

Group C winner vs Group D runner-up-Kazan- 7:00 pm (PST)

Group A winner vs Group B runner-up- Sochi- 11:00 pm (PST)

Sunday 1 July

Group B winner vs Group A runner-up- Moscow (Luzhniki) -7:00 pm (PST)

Group D winner vs Group C runner-up-Nizhny Novgorod-11:00 pm (PST)

Monday 2 July

Group E winner vs Group F runner-up-Samara-7:00 pm (PST)

Group G winner vs Group H runner-up-Rostov-on-Don-11:00 pm (PST)

Tuesday 3 July

Group F winner vs Group E runner-up-St Petersburg-7:00 pm (PST)

Group H winner vs Group G runner-up-Moscow (Spartak) -11:00 pm (PST)

Quarter-finals

Friday 6 July

Winner match 49 vs Winner match 50-Nizhny Novgorod-7:00 pm (PST)

Winner match 53 vs Winner match 54-Kazan-11:00 pm (PST)

Saturday 7 July

Winner match 55 vs Winner match 56-Samara-7:00 pm (PST)

Winner match 51 vs Winner match 52-Sochi-11:00 pm (PST)

Semi-finals

Tuesday 10 July

Winner match 57 vs Winner match 58-St Petersburg-11:00 pm (PST)

Wednesday 11 July

Winner match 59 vs Winner match 60-Moscow (Luzhniki) -11:00 pm (PST)

Third place play-off

Saturday 14 July

Loser match 61 vs Loser match 62-St Petersburg – 7:00 pm (PST)

Final

Sunday 15 July

Winner match 61 vs Winner match 62 – Moscow (Luzhniki) – 8:00 pm (PST)