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It could have been the games of Vladimir Putin. This was at least the concern of those who criticized the selection of Russia as the organizing country of the World Cup or even who called for a boycott of the tournament. The memory of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi is too much alive
The scandal surrounding the supposedly organized doping system by the state in these games still casts a shadow over Russian sports. At the same time, President Putin, in power, was confirmed just six months ago as the man at the helm of the country.
Shortly before the end of the World Cup, the Kremlin could not use in his favor. Painful reforms, such as the expected increase in the age of retirement or the increase in VAT from 18 to 20%, have dropped in recent weeks the ratings of quasi-approval – the President.
On the other hand, the surprising success of Sbornaja with the entry into the quarter-finals provoked a wave of patriotism across the country, which could not be beaten all over the capital of the Kremlin. Only in the opening match, Putin had shown in public in a stadium.
According to a survey conducted by the independent research institute Levada, 42% of Russians think that the country is developing in the wrong direction. A value that was reached before the annexation of Crimea.
Also, the proportion of those who approve of Putin's policy has fallen, according to the Wziom State Institute since mid-March, from 20 points to 63.4%.
For the first time, the love of the Russians for their country and its president separate, commented the Moscow newspaper "Vedomosti". The World Cup was not a festival of power, but a celebration of football.
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