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Andy Hayes, news reporter

Robbie Williams sang Let Me Entertain You as he opened the Russia World Cup in Moscow - before the host nation cruised to a 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

Dressed in a red leopard skin suit, the 44-year-old British star dueted another of his big hits - Angels - alongside Russian operatic soprano Aida Garifullina.

As they sang, 32 flags representing the competing nations were unfurled.

Despite appearing to be in a buoyant mood, however, Williams showed his middle finger to a camera while singing Rock DJ after appearing to say: "I did this for free."

Another of his songs, called Party Like a Russian, was unsurprisingly omitted from his set.

"Ain't no refutin' or disputin' - I'm a modern Rasputin," is one of its lines.

It also contains the lyrics: "It takes a certain kind of man with a certain reputation, to alleviate the cash from a whole entire nation."

Once Williams' set - accompanied by dancers in sparkly outfits - was over, Russian president Vladimir Putin addressed the 80,000-strong crowd at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

Urging visiting fans to make new friends, Mr Putin said his nation was "hospitable and friendly".

"I congratulate all of you at the start of the most important championship in the world," he added.

"Love for football unites the entire world in one team, regardless of people's language or ideology."

Once the opening match was under way, Russia scored quickly, with Yuri Gazinskiy netting for the host nation on 12 minutes.

A further four goals, from Denis Cheryshev (two), Artem Dzyuba and Aleksandr Golovin made it a 5-0 whitewash.

For Russia, in such an important, symbolic match on home soil, it was a brilliant day at the office.

Not least because they are ranked 70th in the world - three places below Saudi Arabia.