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Sport

14th Jun 2018

Forget the opening game, Vladimir Putin in his private box stole the show

Alan Loughnane

Putin

The day has arrived…

World Cup 2018 is officially underway in Russia and the hosts got off to a winning start with a cool 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the opening game.

Russia made light work of the fixture and the result was surely to their esteemed leader Vladimir Putin’s taste as he called the head coach Stanislav Cherchesov midway through his post-match press conference to congratulate him on a super win.

Putin enjoyed the game from his private box alongside Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman who were friendly in the early part of the game, not so much at the latter end of it.

Good thing Ronnie Whelan knew the story…

Putin was caught smugly shaking hands with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Russia scored the first of three goals against Saudi Arabia.

The reaction after the first goal…

This is a new meme waiting to happen.

This tweet probably didn’t go down well in Russia…

Thing began to get tense as the goals flew in…

The fifth goal spelled the end for any kind of niceties…

Are you not entertained?