Local supporters elated at shock win
He was asked why.
“I was looking at the scoreline, so I saw everything,” he said. “I believe it’s only the beginning, so I have to save my emotions for the future.”
Only the beginning. Some statement. “I’m thinking only about the next game. These are very simple and not very sophisticated emotions,” he continued. “As for fitness levels, I believe we can show more.”
So now a side “doomed to fail,” according to the Moscow Times, leaves the field with Russian fans shouting the so-called ultimate compliment from the stands. “Real men,” they yelled at Cherchesov’s players.
Good policing, good infrastructure and good conviviality have now been joined by the most unlikely plaudit for Russia’s authorities: good team. Or, if not ‘good team’ in the aesthetic sense, certainly ‘effective team’.
The last eight is already far enough for Russia to call their contribution on the pitch a success. The quarter-finals take them south to Sochi, thus allowing Russia to overlay, in part, the memory of one of the biggest doping scandals, at the Winter Olympics. They write their own scripts out here. The party has started in Russia — and it’s likely to go on for some time.
The shock win over Spain, albeit on penalties, prompted an outpouring of joy inside Luzhniki Stadium, as more than 75,000 fans went ballistic.
Even though the stereotype about Russians being stern and taciturn types isn’t really accurate, the reaction as Spain’s fifth penalty was saved was telling.
Shirts were torn off, strangers hugged and the wall of noise was incredible.
Those scenes were repeated around Russia, as the host nation now contemplates a place in the quarter-finals, while big guns such as Germany, Argentina, Portugal and Spain are on their way home.
“It’s a miracle, it truly is,” said local fan Grygory Tarasov. “No one expected this. We have to work tomorrow but it will feel like a holiday.”
After the match, Russians congregated in different areas around the capital, with huge crowds descending on Red Square.
The celebrations were set to go on well into the night.
A special atmosphere had been building through the day leading to the 5pm kickoff, though it felt more like a celebration of Russia’s encouraging performance so far, as fans poured out of metro stations into the vast expanse of Luzhniki Stadium, rather than any genuine hope.
The national anthem was sung with tremendous vigour, and the chants of “Rus-si-a, Rus-si-a” reverberated around the arena as the game kicked off.
But the noise diminished as Spain took a stranglehold with their possession game and grabbed the lead through a messy but deserved goal in the 12th minute.
Russia were limited to counterattacks, and the mood was demonstrated after half an hour, when the crowd began Mexican waves. But Russia’s equaliser from the penalty spot — struck home confidently by 1.96m Artem Dzyuba — gave the local support renewed hope.
Spain laid seige to the Russia goal in the second half, with constant attacks but no cutting edge, and the crowd roared at the final whistle.
In extra time, Russia gave up almost all pretence of trying to attack, with 11 men behind the ball and often camped inside their defensive third.
“This is not football,” shouted one Spanish journalist nearby. “They are not even trying to play.”
Maybe, but the defensive effort was superb, with the Russian back three of Ilya Kutepov, Sergey Ignashevich and Fedor Kudriashov immaculate with their positioning, strength and concentration.
Spain, playing a hybrid mix of the styles of Real and Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, weren’t finding the mark with their crosses and were reluctant to shoot.
Russia’s defensive approach was questionable — and made you yearn for the wonderful Soviet Union teams of the 1980s — but it was pragmatic.
On a humid evening, it was baking inside Luzhniki Stadium, with the partial roof trapping a lot of heat.
Valencia forward Rodrigo made an impact for Spain with his direct running, and La Roja wasted some late chances, as the Russian players urged more support from the crowd.
Penalties were always going to favour the home side, though Spain at least got the consolation of shooting towards their small band of supporters, probably less than 1000.
But every Russian penalty was convincing, with even central defender Ignashevich striking home with aplomb.
Koke missed to ramp up the pressure on the 2010 World Cup champions, before Igor Akinfeev’s freakish save of Iago Aspas’ attempt sealed the victory for the Golden Eagles.
It was perhaps also appropriate that Spanish captain Sergio Ramos played a part in Aspas’ fateful miss. After converting the fourth penalty for Spain, the controversial Ramos had remained close to the penalty area, not retreating to the halfway line to stand with his teammates.
Just before Aspas was about to start his run-up, referee Bjorn Kuipers noticed the presence of Ramos and halted play.
He waved Ramos back to halfway, as Aspas was forced to wait, never a good scenario for a penalty taker. And so it proved.