"I had a bit of luck with the goal, but I'm happy because it was a very tight game," Spain's Diego Costa said after the ball deflected off his knee from an attempted clearance by hapless Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian.
Russia scored three goals in a 15-minute span early in the second half to set up a 3-1 win over Egypt, moving the host nation to the brink of the World Cup's knockout stage.
England's captain Harry Kane's second goal in the 91st minute saved the day for his team which launched their World Cup campaign with a dramatic win at Volgograd Arena.
American Brooks Koepka became the first US Open champion in almost three decades to successfully defend his title after clinching a one-stroke victory over England's Tommy Fleetwood at Shinnecock Hills.
Germany's preparations for the tournament were plagued by poor results and controversy, and their problems were magnified in the Russian capital.
Britain's former world number one, Andy Murray, has not played since last year's Wimbledon due to a hip injury and subsequent surgery.
A psychic elephant, a baby polar bear and a Derbyshire pig make predictions about the football teams clashing in semis and winner of the tournament.
The host nation Russia is one of the lowest-ranked teams in the tournament but has spent more than $13 billion to host football's showpiece.
As the World Cup kicks off in Moscow lets compare how football is run and how international law is applied.
The boycott by the Argentinian team has set a precedent for other football teams thinking of playing in Israel. A strong signal that Israeli crimes have consequences.
The choice is clear — between a slick bid based on gleaming stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada or an ambitious attempt from Morocco based on as-yet largely unbuilt facilities.
The 19-year-old Cuban athlete produced the furthest long jump in 23 years but a tailwind denied him a place in the record books at the IAAF Athletics Diamond League in Stockholm.
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