"There is a feeling of a celebration. We have chances, both today and when it comes to reaching the knockout stage. Our group is not the strongest one. Both Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the teams whose level is for sure not higher than ours. In fact, we must get past the group stage, and then we will see," Zhukov told journalists.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will kick off with the match between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium later on Thursday.