
China’s internet lights up as Russia crush Saudi Arabia in World Cup opener
Memes featuring Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince make the rounds on Weibo
China didn’t qualify for this year’s World Cup, but that didn’t spoil the fun for Chinese football fans.
The opening tournament saw hosts Russia thrashing Saudi Arabia 5-0, providing plenty of fodder for memes and jokes on China’s microblog Weibo.
People jumped on the hilarious interaction between Russian president Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, caught on camera.


This picture of two men, said to be stunned Saudi fans, was also trending:

Meet Vivo, the FIFA World Cup sponsor you’ve never heard of
China might not be playing in the tournament this time, but its presence is still keenly felt. Stadiums are filled with billboards from Chinese sponsors such as phone maker Vivo and electronics manufacturer Hisense.
China has only qualified for the World Cup once, in 2002. They exited the tournament in the first round, failing to score a single goal and losing all three matches -- including 2-0 to Costa Rica, a country with a population smaller than many Chinese cities.
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