SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia -- If every host nation could handpick their opponents for the opening game of a major tournament, New Zealand would be close to the top of the list and Russia did not pass up their opportunity to make a winning start to the Confederations Cup against Oceania's champions.
In front of Vladimir Putin, Russia cruised to a 2-0 victory in the $1.4 billion Krestovsky Stadium. So emphatic was the hosts' performance that the only negative was that they did not win by six or seven goals. Yet the problem with swatting aside minnows is that it rarely offers genuine pointers for the future or gives a coach the opportunity to gauge the progress and development of his players.