Russia have proved the doubters wrong -- for the moment.
The World Cup hosts showed nerves of steel and ruthless finishing in thumping Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament's opening match before an anxious crowd of nearly 80,000 in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium yesterday.
The emphatic result transformed the men in red from villains to heroes and gave Russians a rare sporting reason to rejoice.
Everyone from senators and regional leaders to President Vladimir Putin himself congratulated coach Stanislav Cherchesov for Russia's biggest World Cup victory in post-Soviet history.
It came at Luzhniki Stadium -- the crucible of both Russian and Soviet sport -- with the weight of an expectant but sceptical nation on their shoulders.
"The head of state called me and congratulated me," Russia's moustachioed manager said matter-of-factly after the match.
Putin "told me to keep playing the way we were, to keep going."
- 'We're not so bad' -
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"And our opponents will be getting stronger by the match."
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