Russian pride overtakes pressure
MOSCOW: World Cup host Russia says pressure will be replaced by pleasure and national pride as it bids to sweep past Croatia and into the last four tomorrow morning.
The Russians, who came into the tournament as the lowestranked team, have defied their fans’ expectations by reaching the quarterfinals.
They have quickly been embraced as national heroes, with the mayor of Moscow responding by making additional public viewing space available in the city before the match in Sochi’s Fisht Stadium.
‘‘Now there is not so much pressure,’’ midfielder Aleksandr Samedov told reporters.
‘‘Compared to before the tournament and the pressure we felt back then — it was much harder. Now we are in quarterfinals and we just want to bring pleasure to the supporters and to get further and we do not feel the pressure as we did before the tournament.’’
Accolades have included a bison being named after Russia’s top striker, Artem Dzyuba, and a newborn eagle after goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who saved two penalties against 2010 World Cup winner Spain in the previous round.
Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov knows that most of the 48,000strong crowd will be supporting the home side but the former goalkeeper has shown little interest in participating in the national outpouring of emotion.
‘‘Emotions are simple. You show them when you direct the team. Now I am thinking only about the next game. These are not very sophisticated emotions.’’ Cherchesov has several issues to resolve, with his midfield the biggest worry.
Alan Dzagoev has recovered from a hamstring injury but is still unable to take a full part in training while Samedov sat on the sidelines on Wednesday with an unspecified fitness problem.
Fellow midfielder Yuri Zhirkov has been ruled out injured and is unlikely to feature again, unless the host side makes it to the final in Moscow on July 16, according to Cherchesov.
The midfield is seen as a key battleground tomorrow, with Croatia’s midfielder, Luka Modric, regarded as one of the best exponents in the world.
Stopping Modric’s deliveries to a worldclass attack that includes Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, Marko Pjaca, Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric will be crucial for the Russians. They will have to attack Modric earlier than they managed to do against Spain’s playmakers.