2018 World Cup: Simple, sweet opening

The World Cup got under way Thursday in a short and sweet opening ceremony, with English pop star Robbie Williams dominating the centre of the park with a medley of his hits.

Williams got the ball rolling and the crowd pumping at the World Cup with a traditional glitzy opening ceremony in Moscow, though he couldn't avoid a bit of controversy.

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Earlier in the day, the World Cup trophy itself was delivered into the Luzhniki Stadium — where the final will take place in 31 days — by Iker Casillas, a man already well acquainted with the feeling of hoisting it aloft.

As for the ceremony itself, the organisers managed to pack a lot of spectacle into 10 minutes, with peformers bearing the colours of the 32 participating teams also parading.

Williams was then joined on the set by Russian opera singer Aida Garifullina, who arrived on the back of a giant fiery eagle.

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As the song went on, and Williams bowed out, Brazilian legend, Ronaldo emerged with the Mascot, Zabivaka, to perform the official kick off.