Build-up to the opening ceremony and the match

No host nation has ever lost in their opening game of a World Cup tournament (W15 D6, including both Japan and Korea debuts in 2002). 

Germany's midfielder Mesut Ozil reacts during a training session in Vatutinki, near Moscow, on June 14, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. Photo: AFP

German team won the World Cup last term while residing in tiny, picturesque island off the Brazilian mainland and a spectacular view of lush jungle and sea inspiring them to the World Cup title.

Their tropical paradise has this time been replaced with a red-brick hotel block in the village of Vatutinki.

Reuters quoted Germany midfielder Tony Kroos as saying: “I think it’s OK. We can spend our time here with two, three activities that we can do. It is absolutely OK and the desire for vacation afterwards becomes even stronger.”

A soccer fan performs "havan" (traditional Hindu fire ritual) as part of a special prayer for the better performance and win for Brazil in the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, at Howrah. Photo: Reuters.

The football World Cup is a global event and it can be felt through images such as the one above where the priest is peforming a fire ritual to bring luck to Neymar and Brazil.