Russia and Saudi Arabia will meet in the opening game of the World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Thursday.

“All the teams that came to Russia for the tournament – we are all under our own pressure, we all feel it, and it only mobilizes us. The first game puts additional pressure on the host nation’s team, the Russian squad. Other teams are not likely to feel something like it,” Pizzi told reporters.

The coach added that Saudi Arabia have “the highest ambitions” and plan to beat Russia in the first game.

The World Cup, kicking off on Thursday, will continue through July 15, with the games to be held in 11 cities across Russia.