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The World Cup is over for Russia, but the lowest team of the tournament was one of the last eight teams in the running
It was a great race, but the remarkable Cup World has dreamed millions of people The 11 time zones of Russia are finally over.
There will always be memories, and if that were to end, there was one last glorious moment that no Russian fan present in Sochi on Saturday night will forget for the rest of their lives.
Perhaps the brightest point of the host country's trip to the quarter-finals came here, while the defeat was still not an option and Mario Fernandes tied it against Croatia at the 115th minute.
The atmosphere in the ground was electric all evening, every movement on the ground increased as the match went on to reach spectacular levels of noise with the sublime opening match from Denis Cheryshev.
This goal, and Fernandes' spectacular leveler in overtime, counted for nothing other than memories in the end – while Croatia went through 4-3 winners after shots on goal.
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Russia out of World Cup after defeat Croatia on penalties
Cheryshev ranked higher in the defeat of the last eight
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2018 World Cup: Russia 2-2 Croatia (3-4 pens) Highlights
It was a cruel way to end everything, but as a result of the defeat, it must be remembered that those moments were thrilling here.
The last time Russia – as part of the Soviet Union team – appeared in the last eight of the World Cup was 1970, and before the match two huge banners appeared in the crowd.
They read: "If it's not you, who? If it is not now, when? "
At 21:00 local time, in a stadium facing the setting sun on a blue Black Sea, Russia was two lucky wins to aim for the biggest prize in world football.
Such prospects were simply unthinkable before the start of the tournament
Russia had failed to win in seven friendlies.We talked about them becoming only the second host country in the history of the World Cup not to reach the knockout stage.
But this incredible dream of a trip started with this 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia at the opening night on 14 June
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Highlights of the 2018 World Cup: Russia 5-0 Saudi Arabia
TV commentators shouted – Five! Five! Five! Five! Five! – while the camera sliced on the mischievous and moustached smile of the manager Stanislav Cherchesov. Maybe he's always known?
lya Zubko, a journalist who covers the national team of Rossiskaya Gazeta, believed at least: "I have long been on the side and I have always felt that it had qualities that would n & # 39; may not have been shown, "he added. said.
"But Russia is a country whose supporters tend to deviate between extremes: everything is very, very good or absolutely terrible, so no one expected such a brilliant opening result. "
there was no one among the fans who I spoke to during the first week that was set up for the long term.
In a country where ice hockey is competing more and more with the popularity of football, many still refused to accept that it was all about something more than one. simple. Some would only reluctantly admit that they could watch the next against Egypt.
I kept telling people: You are at home – it changes everything. And when that happened, again, finally people started to agree. Egypt was swept too, in a 3-1 win which meant that a place in the last 16 was safe.
A feeling that English fans know well – the sorrow of defeat on penalties
But first there was the question of who would finish in the lead. The last Group A match of Russia against Uruguay would settle it. The result has lowered people's expectations once again.
In the bus back from the Samara Arena after Russia lost 3-0, fans continued to sing: "We are Russia and we are doomed". There were these extremes again.
What seemed to be worse than the defeat was the fact that a knockout match with Spain was now expected.
But it is the land of the hero's goalkeeper, and in the city where Lev Yashin built his unmatched reputation, the current number one of the national team Igor Akinfeev saved two penalties to send Russia in the quarterfinals. Now we were really in an unknown territory. I was back in Samara that night, watching the game on television but witnessing the incredible scenes of joy that broke out in the spontaneous mbad celebrations in the streets of the city.
It was a magical night – you felt the whole country, a nation of 144 million, was united with smiles.
Then came the days of rest. TV montages showing the backup of Akinfeev again and again. "Before the tournament, nobody believed, now they were all heroes," says Zubko.
Putin called on Cherchesov to say well done. "Just an extra boost for us," said the director on Friday.
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Highlights: Spain 1-1 Russia (3-4 pens)
I noticed parallels with England at the 1996 Euro. Russian fans were even beginning to play & He comes home & # 39;
Denis Kazansky, commentator for Match TV, compared the state of mind to "what happened at the 2008 European Championships, when the whole country celebrated the miracle in Basel, an extra victory against the Netherlands which allowed us to go into the semifinals ".
Kazansky adds: "Except that Moscow's reaction to Spain was even stronger: people even named their children after the players, and Cherchesov was now more than a coach he became" The Mentor. "
The first day, we did not expect much from our team, and then the thoughts turned to victory.
" What we have seen is a significant change in people's attitudes, and in the history of Russian football. "
There were two chapters of Russian football that have permanently closed as a result of the 38-year-old loss Defender Sergei Ignashevich has announced his retirement and winger of 33 years Aleksandr Samedov finished his time with the national team.
For Zubko, the development of Russian football here depends at least partly on the future of its young stars, as Aleksandr Golovin, 22 years old, CSKA Moscow midfielder.
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2018 World Cup: Mario Fernandes' levels send quarter-finals in penalty kicks
"After the 2008 Euros, Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko respectively moved to Arsenal and Tottenham".
"Now we will see if any part of this team makes a leap similar to leagues of a higher level than Russia, as in Spain, Germany or England."
He adds, "But the team also needs ongoing support to maintain its success."
"After the success of Euro 2008, when the team did not qualify for the World Cup in 2010, attitudes changed very quickly." Hopefully now, if for whatever reason, they have trouble reaching the next European Championship in 2020, the same thing will not happen again. "
As dust begins to settle and as the people are starting to remember these famous last four weeks, it will be time to reflect on the points raised above.Although there is not much – the Russian national season begins again in July
. there is still a scheduled stop for the national team on Sunday, and when they come back to Moscow they will visit the fan zone near the Luzhniki stadium.
They would have played there after defeating Croatia in a semi-final against England on Wednesday night.
Instead, that's 3 9 is a last chance to say thank you to the fans, and goodbye to a very special moment indeed.
Source: bbc.com
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