Russia hopes to extend success
MOSCOW — It doesn’t matter that few Russian fans expected the host nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals — midfielder Alexander Golovin is already thinking about the final.
The creative breakout star for Russia never doubted his team would perform well, even long before it beat Spain in a penalty-kick shootout in the round of 16 to set up today’s match against Croatia in Sochi.
“We knew that everything was possible,” he said this week. “Even before the beginning of the tournament, we all understood that we could reach the final. We seriously counted on this and see this as the real state of things for us now.”
Croatia also reached the quarterfinals on penalties after overcoming a spirited Denmark team. Now it’s aiming to match its best World Cup performance, a semifinal run in France in 1998.
Defender Domagoj Vida believes Croatia can take full advantage of being on what’s widely considered the easier side of the bracket.
“Now we are in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, which is a big success for us,” he said. “But our goals are higher. God willing, we would like to lift the World Cup trophy, and that’s why we are here.”
The winner will face England or Sweden.
Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic was his team’s star in the round of 16, making three saves in the shootout. He predicted Russia will repeat the protective style displayed in its previous match, when Spain had possession of the ball 75 percent of the time but couldn’t break through a deep and dedicated defense.
“I expect a defensive-minded Russia,” Subasic said. “We expect a tough match as all the others.”
Golovin predicted Croatia will offer Russia more opportunities to score because of its style, compared to Spain’s endless passing.
“They don’t have the aim of controlling the ball during the whole match. Their goal is to reach a result,” Golovin said. “And in this sense, it’s easier to play with such a team, in my opinion.”
Perhaps regardless of what happens today, Russia is a team transformed in public opinion.
Coach Stanislav Cherchesov was the butt of jokes before the tournament after his team failed to win any of its final seven preWorld Cup friendlies. Now he’s being hailed as a tactical genius by fans who have been partying with fake mustaches in tribute to Cherchesov’s distinctive facial hair.
“The country believed in us,” midfielder Yuri Gazinsky said. “A lot of people during the match against the Spanish had doubts, but we managed to prove that they can believe in us.”