Russia rocks as Spain stumble

Moscow: A coach who had been looked down upon as a pantomime villain and a team that few gave a chance to survive the first round of the World Cup have become the toast of Russia. Stanislav Cherchesov and his boys have forged a new identity for Russian football by reaching the quarter-finals against heavy odds.

After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia hadn’t progressed even to the second round of the World Cup. Here they are in the last eight after knocking out Spain on penalties. A roaring success in terms of organisation, the World Cup is now a blockbuster on the field as well thanks to the exploits of the Russian team.

Just like the Luzhniki, the whole of Moscow erupted in joy and excitement after goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev sealed the fate of Spain with an acrobatic save in the shootout on Sunday. He played with the spirit of Russia’s legendary goal-keeper Lev Yashin.

Flag-waving fans filled the air with the chants of ‘Roo-ss-ya, Roo-ss-ya’ as metro stations, city squares and even super markets became impromptu centres of celebration. Fans inside speeding cars honked non-stop as Russia celebrated a rare success in football with gusto. Data on how many people were late to office on Monday morning would shed light on the extent of the late night parties.

Akinfeev rightly said that the man of the match was the raucous crowd inside the Luzhniki. Svetlana Nesterova, a Russian fan who was inside the stadium, seconded her captain when she was asked what made the home team tick. “We (fans),” she said. “We made the difference today. I’m full of joy.”

According to Svetlana, the win over Spain was a bonus. “We never thought Russia would reach the second round. Playing in the quarter-final of this amazing event would be a great achievement in itself. We have done so well in a tournament that is the focus of the world now,” she said.

The fan, who has lived in the US for a considerable time, said the World Cup would motivate more Russians to play and watch football. “We have created world-class infrastructure for the event and it is up to us to make use of it,” she added.

Sergey Ivanovic wasn’t pleased with Russia’s style of play but he was happy with his team’s presence in the quarter-finals. “We played anti-football but we won. That’s what matters in the end,” he said.

Even people who care little about football are caught in the euphoria of success. Anna Teziaeva said she had not been bothered about football before the World Cup. “Now football appears cool to me. I think I will watch it even after the World Cup. I’m proud that my country has defied the odds to come so far,” she added.

Fans from other countries, with the exception of Spain, also joined the celebrations because for most of them present here, Russia is a second home.