FIFA World Cup inaugural match

THIS year's FIFA World Cup opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia is scheduled on June 14. As facts go, the current FIFA world ranking of Russia is 65. The country appeared in 10 World Cups and will host the 2018 edition of FIFA World Cup. Its best result was a fourth place in the 1966 version. Russia's Lev Yashin (1929-1990) was a famous professional footballer and often regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in football history. From 1958 to 1970, Yashin appeared in four World Cups. He saved more than 150 penalty kicks in professional football which was more than any other goalkeeper. As a result, he was voted the best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).

Meanwhile, the current FIFA ranking of Saudi Arabia is 67, which is close to that of Russia. Since 1994, Saudi Arabia appeared in 5 World Cups and its best performance was a Round of 16 in 1994 World Cup. In 2002 World Cup, runners-up Germany thrashed Saudi Arabia by 8-0 in a group level match. It was the biggest defeat of the country in a World Cup match. Russia seems more experienced than Saudi Arabia. The whole world will look on as these two teams face each other in the inaugural match of World Cup Football 2018.

Iftu Ahmed

Aurora, IL, USA.

[email protected]