Supporter of Uruguay celebrates the opening goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON
Monday's first games could not be any more different. Over at the Volgograd Arena, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were playing for the wooden spoon. In Samara, it was a tussle for top spot in Group A between Russia and Uruguay.
A supporter of Russia cheers prior to the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSK
History was made in that dead rubber, though, with 45-year-old Essam El Hadary becoming the oldest man to play at a World Cup.
Egypt's goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY
Luis Suarez got La Celeste off to a flying start, firing a cracking free kick into the bottom right-hand corner.
Luis Suarez of Uruguay reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON
Russia had a chance to equalise within minutes, but Denis Cheryshev struck straight at the keeper with a great big net gaping either side of him. All this while the other match remained at 0-0.
Matias Vecino of Uruguay (R) and Artem Dzyuba of Russia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH
Salah eventually got one in for the Pharaohs in the 22nd minute, understandably not bothering to celebrate. The Liverpool man's international career has come under the scanner in recent days after he was filmed with Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov while at Egypt’s World Cup base in Grozny. There were rumours that he was set to retire from international football, swiftly denied by the Egyptian FA.
Mohamed Salah (C) of Egypt celebrates with teammates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE
Cheryshev, meanwhile, found the back of the wrong net. With just 23 minutes gone, Uruguay were 2-0 up.
Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev of Russia concedes the 0-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts. A foolish tackle from Igor Smolnikov, who was already on a yellow card, saw him sent off to leave Russia with 10 men.
Igor Smolnikov of Russia (C) fouls Diego Laxalt of Uruguay during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH Referee Malang Diedhiou shows the red card to Igor Smolnikov of Russia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. PA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH Diego Laxalt of Uruguay (R) celebrates scoring the 2-0 with Sebastian Coates of Uruguay during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH
Over in the race for the wooden spoon, Saudi Arabia had a penalty saved by the old man and then scored another, drawing level with Egypt before the break.
Goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary of Egypt saves the penalty of Fahad Al-Muwallad of Saudi Arabia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITS Salman Al-Faraj (C) of Saudi Arabia celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer from the penalty spot during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY Egypt's head coach Hector Cuper reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY
After all that first-half drama, both matches were comparatively tame... until the last minute. Edinson Cavani added Uruguay's third goal, a minute before the regulation time whistle blew, sealing Russia's biggest ever defeat at a World Cup. It also means Suarez and co are yet to concede at the 2018 World Cup.
In the wooden spoon race, Saudi Arabia scored a last-minute winner to leave the Pharaohs going home without a win.
Edinson Cavani of Uruguay celebrates scoring the 3-0 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON Goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary of Egypt reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE
Supporter of Uruguay celebrates the opening goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON /file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439458.jpg "A supporter of Russia cheers prior to the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSK")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439408.jpg "Egypt's goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439585.jpg "Luis Suarez of Uruguay reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439462.jpg "Matias Vecino of Uruguay (R) and Artem Dzyuba of Russia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439601.jpg "Mohamed Salah (C) of Egypt celebrates with teammates after scoring the 1-0 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439674.jpg "Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev of Russia concedes the 0-2 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439703.jpg "Igor Smolnikov of Russia (C) fouls Diego Laxalt of Uruguay during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439885.jpg "Referee Malang Diedhiou shows the red card to Igor Smolnikov of Russia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. PA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439638.jpg "Diego Laxalt of Uruguay (R) celebrates scoring the 2-0 with Sebastian Coates of Uruguay during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/TATYANA ZENKOVICH")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439728.jpg "Goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary of Egypt saves the penalty of Fahad Al-Muwallad of Saudi Arabia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITS")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439733.jpg "Salman Al-Faraj (C) of Saudi Arabia celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer from the penalty spot during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439680.jpg "Egypt's head coach Hector Cuper reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/SERGEI ILNITSKY")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439968.jpg "Edinson Cavani of Uruguay celebrates scoring the 3-0 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Uruguay and Russia in Samara, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/WALLACE WOON")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/h_54439947.jpg "Goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary of Egypt reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE")