Well I said expectations were low for the opener, but a goal afte just 12 minutes set us up for an entertaining affair. We even had a hint of our first VAR controversy as the defender fell to the ground but if it was reviewed (we never found out for sure) the correct decision was reached as it was clearly a slip. There was a penalty shout a little later but again no foul was correct. Ian Wright claimed a dive, somehow I don’t think he’ll be as quick to accuse when it’s Sterling or Dele Alli hitting the deck. Interesting too to hear Mark Clattenburg reveal the the assistant refs have been instructed not to flag for marginal offsides but to leave it to the VAR guys (who are in a booth somewhere wearing their full referee kit!)
Russia’s second was well taken but a result of some very poor defending, a recurring theme for the Saudis who looked a little out of their depth. As Glen Hoddle put it early in the second half “they’ve got to change something”. Any chance of doing what you’re paid for and suggesting what? No? Never mind.
Close up shots of the crowd and Mexican waves (are we really still doing those?) indicated that the game was drifting off to sleep, but another goal scoring sub changed that and excellent fourth (with a hint of offside) and fifth goals ensured an entertaining first game.
So a good start, with just one burning question left unanswered - who brought the feckin vuvuzela?
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