IF you looked closely enough, Vladimir Putin actually enjoyed himself as the goals flowed in. Honestly.

This was what Russia as a team and country badly needed. Five goals, a few of them outstanding, a game well worth watching at the Luzhniki stadium packed with people having a good time. It’s what the World Cup is supposed to be about.

No wonder the boss man smiled. Well, his mouth turned upwards which for him is a side-splitting belly laugh.

As well as Russia played, Saudi Arabia were dreadful. They could play, a bit, but had no interest of having a shot at goal. The hosts, on the other hand, were ruthless, although it remains difficult to properly judge them given the poor quality of their opposition.

So, a good start to the tournament. Well, it got good once Robbie Williams, a singer who has not been relevant for the best part of 20 years, stopped whatever it was he was doing during the opening ceremony. The nicest thing you could say was it was mercifully brief.

The bold Robbie put a middle finger up to a camera. Note to Robbie. If you are taking money from FIFA to perform in front of Vladimir Putin then you are some way from being either cool or a rebel.

Thankfully, the football did genuinely entertain us.

Opening games are rarely classics and, while it was one-sided, there was a lot of good football to enjoy and appreciate.

Russia had some good players in attacking roles – Fedor Smolov, Alexsander Golovin and Iury Gazinsky caught the eye – and they won not only a game but also a bit of respect from the public after some shocking performances over the last two years.

Russia dominated from the start and they were ahead after 12 minutes.

The Russians sustained pressure saw them win three corners in quick success. The third wasn’t cleared properly, the ball came to Roman Zobnin outside the penalty box, he floated a lovely cross over half a dozen Saudi players to the unmarked Gazinsky at the back post, and he planted his header past goalkeeper Abdullah Almuaiouf.

For those who like trivia, Gazinsky became the first player to score with the first shot on target at a World Cup tournament since Germany’s Philipp Lahm in 2006.

A second goal from Russia always felt as if it was on its way and two minutes before the break this match was settled.

Russia attacked with pace, Saudi’s defenders retreated just as quickly and missed chances to make a tackle as the red shirts charged. The ball was moved right to left, Denis Cheryshev dummied to shoot, fooling two defenders in the process, before sending a left foot shot inside the post.

Cheryshev, who plays in Spain with Villareal, had come on as substitute for Alan Dzagoev whose hamstring went early in the half.

Saudi did not give off the impression they had a goal in them and yet a half-chance was created on 55 minutes but Mohammed Alshahlawi couldn’t get a touch on a cross ball when he was at the front post and a touch might have been all that was needed for a goal.

The inevitable Russian third came on 71 minutes. Artem Dzyuba, a giant of a centre-forward, had been on the field for a minute when a header from Zobnin’s cross, his first touch, brought him to the party.

Russia were able to score two more in injury time. The fourth came from Cheryshev, who looked the part, with a goal which might not be bettered.

He ran onto a knock down from Dzyuba and from outside the box took on a bouncing ball with the outside of his left foot and sent the ball into the top if the net. It was an outstanding finish which might even have been bettered a minute later.

From a free-kick 20 yards out and to the right of the Saudi goal, the talented Golovin curled the ball over the wall and into the corner of the net.

Vlad and the rest would have partied long into the Moscow night.