1. The WC host has never been beaten in the opening match
2. Ruski are without a win for 7 matches, a run stretching back from October last year
3. Saudi has lost 7 and drawn 2 in the WC since 2006
4. In the only previous encounter, Saudi beat Ruski 4-2 in a 1993 October friendly in Saudi
5. Saudi have never won an opening match in WC (D1, L3)
6. Saudi have only kept one clean sheet in 13 WC fixtures and have failed to score in 7 of their last 9 games in WC
7. Saudi have lost 8 out of 9 WC matches against European nations. Solitary win again Belgium in 1994.
– BY ARTURO FANGIO
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