Russia savouring its World Cup ride
NIZHNY NOVGOROD Russian coach Stanislav Cherchesov is staying grounded ahead of a quarter-final meeting with Croatia Saturday night in Sochi.
The hosts have ventured further in this tournament than anyone expected after shocking Spain in an exhilarating Round of 16 clash last weekend at Luzhniki Stadium.
“I’m trying not to get distracted. If I get a newspaper where I can read the headline I’ll read the headline,” Cherchesov said.
“I believe we should have our eyes open and ears ready, but when you’re praised all the time, that’s bad, too. We Russians like extremes, but let’s not go to these extremes.”
Seemingly routine calls from Russian President Vladimir Putin apparently haven’t added any more stress to the equation.
“He called me before the game against the Spanish team and after the game with the Spanish team,” Cherchesov added.
“Of course, when the president supports you it makes you comfortable. The players know this. It’s an extra boost in terms of motivation.”
ENGLAND FEELING GOOD
England has been more or less injury-free at this tournament.
It’s why coach Gareth Southgate wonders if England’s players are in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Although our team will be better in two years, with more life experience, maybe the cards on injuries and things won’t fall as kindly and we won’t get this opportunity again,” Southgate told ITV News, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
“It’s dangerous if I start to get carried away, but I’m proud of the way we’re playing.”
Ahead of a quarter-final meeting with Sweden on Saturday night in Samara, England truly has a nation believing football very well could be “coming home.”
“It’s a huge privilege to be able to send everybody to work happy, to be able to make a difference to people lives,” Southgate added.
The Three Lions haven’t reached the semifinal stage of a World Cup since 1990.
THIS AND THAT
Despite having scored six goals with, potentially, three games to play, England striker Harry Kane is not close to matching the record for most goals scored at a single World Cup. Frenchman Just Fontaine scored 13 times during the 1958 edition. Kane very well could become the highest scorer at a World Cup since Germany’s Gerd Muller scored 10 times in 1970 … Close to 300,000 football fans — mostly Colombians, one would guess — reportedly have signed a petition demanding their quarter-final with England be replayed on the grounds the match wasn’t refereed in a fair manner. I’d argue Colombia was lucky the match reached penalties given Wilmar Barrios should have been sent off for headbutting Jordan Henderson … England centre back John Stones told the Irish Times Colombia is the “dirtiest” side he’s ever faced. “It showed massive character to keep a cool head and not get dragged into their game,” Stones added.