Juan Antonio Pizzi's side dominated possession and passed the ball accurately throughout the match but their lack of urgency meant they could not bring the ball into the final third and failed to record a single shot on target all night.

Defensively, the Green Falcons were far from their best as they allowed Russia to physically dominate and score at will despite not spending extended spells of time in the Saudi defensive third.

Iury Gazinsky scored after 12 minutes and Denis Cheryshev added a second before the break after coming on as an injury replacement for Alan Dzagoev. 

Artem Dzuyba netted a third before terrific late efforts from Cheryshev and Aleksandr Golovin wrapped up Russia's first win since October to launch their Group A campaign in style. 

For Saudi Arabia it was a return to the global showpiece for the first time in 12 years, with their only previous finals wins at the 1994 World Cup.

Only South Africa, in 2010, have failed to advance from the group stage as the host nation and a seven-match winless run had ramped up the pressure on Stanislav Cherchesov's side.

The last time the Atlas Lions took part, it was two decades ago at France 1998, and under the tutelage of Herve Renard they are desperate to make the most of this opportunity.

IR Iran enter having reached successive World Cups for the very first time. With Carlos Queiroz set to end his seven years at the helm post-tournament, his charges will be equally motivated.

The three-time AFC Asian Cup winners will be without the suspended Saeid Ezatolahi, and Team Melli will also be sweating on Mehdi Taremi's and Askhan Dejagah's injuries. Morocco, meanwhile, will be hoping Nabil Dirar is passed fit.

The luck of the draw saw Team Melli grouped with 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Spain, reigning European champions Portugal and Morocco and all, on paper, look to be very tough opposition.

IR Iran, however, are famous for their resilience and with astute tactician Carlos Queiroz guiding them, the three-time Asian champions can meet their target of advancing to the Knockout Stage for the first time.

Nishino’s side picked up their first win on Tuesday in their third game under their new coach – following losses to Ghana and Switzerland – since replacing Vahid Halilhodzic with a 4-2 victory over Paraguay in their final warm-up before travelling to Russia.

“In the three games I’ve just been experimenting, whether it’s with the formation or the players I picked,” Nishino said. “I completely changed the team from the Swiss game and I wanted to see how they responded.

“As you might be able to imagine, we’ve kept a few things to ourselves, including set-pieces. If I were Colombia, I think I’d have a hard time reading into our team. There are things we’ve been able to show and things we haven’t been able to show up until now.

“Everything we’re doing right now is for the Colombia game.”

But first he has to hope Australia's Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk gives him the nod from the substitutes' bench.

Socceroos great Cahill is responsible for nearly half of Australia's 11 World Cup goals to date.

And although he is expected to start all three Group C games -- against France, Peru and Denmark -- on the bench, Cahill's dream of becoming just the fourth player after Brazil's Pele and Germans Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose to score in four World Cups remains intact.

At 38 years old, time is against the Australian, who says he has "spent a whole year getting ready for three games".

Cahill underlined his personal ambitions, and those of an Australia team hoping to stun Euro 2016 finalists France in Kazan, on Saturday.

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