Cup craze spurs Russia to victory
Coach’s mustache sets off host fans’ show of support
MOSCOW — The strangest thing about the opening day of the 2018 World Cup wasn’t that Vladimir Putin’s welcoming speech lasted longer than a filibuster, but instead an eruption of uncharacteristic facial hair among citizens of the host nation.
Russians are generally clean-shaven — no hipster beards over here — and even a sprinkling of stubble is usually hard to find on the streets and subways of Moscow.
However, a growing number of Russians have shown they are prepared to make an exception in the name of national soccer success. Head coach Stanislav Cherchesov’s team was the lowest ranked nation in the tournament (70th) before the start of play and was given little hope of making a mark.
Determined to do something about it, late-night television host Ivan Urgant implored his countrymen to show support to Cherchesov. His distinctive mustache puts him very much in the minority in his homeland, but by growing “World Cup ’taches” or the “mustache of hope,” a Russian soccer version of the playoff beard, fans could have tangible evidence of their support.
The idea has since become a minicraze, with the results posted all over social media, often with hilarious effects. And, in the buildup to Thursday’s opening game against Saudi Arabia, Cherchesov himself gave backing to the idea. The coach, whose team had not won any of its past seven games, has largely shut himself off from the media ahead of the tournament after a spate of criticism.
He hadn’t heard of Urgant’s campaign but responded in good humor. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he told a reporter. “But everyone come to the stadium with a mustache.” Perhaps it worked. Russia started like a train in its opening game, despite losing its best player Alan Dzagoev to a hamstring injury. Russia defeated Saudia Arabia 5-0.