Russia falls head high against Croatia

The football miracle ended in the quarterfinals. Russia was out of the tournament on Saturday (July 7th) on penalties after a draw against Croatia (2-2, 4 to 3). The host country, mediocre 70 ^e in the FIFA ranking before the World Cup, did not reissue the course of South Korea, surprise guest, who had climbed in the semifinals of his World Cup in 2002.

Yet the 45,000 spectators at the Sochi Olympic Stadium believed it all the way, even when there were only a few minutes left in overtime and their team was 2-1 against the Croatia. The great absent, President Vladimir Putin, who once again sent his prime minister to the Black Sea, must have also dreamed in front of his television. The spokesman of the Kremlin has also split a statement relayed by Interfax agency: "Putin watched, he supported the players of the team. We lost in a big fair game. They are always great guys in our eyes, they are heroes. They were succumbing on the ground, we are proud of them.

After all, their "Sbornaya" had hitherto thwarted all predictions. When defender Manuel Fernandes equalized his head and the penalties were announced for the second consecutive time, each Russian had to think of an improbable qualification in the semifinals. The hero of the knockout stage against Spain, goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, was going to save the homeland once again. In the stands of the Olympic Stadium, the fists were angry, the children carried at arm's length and the rain of selfies immortalized the moment that promised to be memorable.

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He did not need anything. The heir of the legendary Lev Yachine has been close to repeating his Spanish feat. He first brilliantly pulled out an opponent attempt and was on the verge of diverting that of the Croatian captain. The ball finally hit the post before crossing the line. The spell was cast. Akinfeev will not go down in history. He will not have his life-size fresco. The captain will be satisfied with his face painted on a crust: the painting of a lady crossed before the meeting along the beach bordering the enclosure of Sochi, artistic talent unfortunately not related to his patriotism.

A new interest for the World Cup

In the stands, some spectators made the effort to diversify their encouragement. Without much success, because of a large majority of neophyte crowd. Ola's attempts failed but there were two or three "clapping", this type of clapping popularized by Icelandic fans at Euro 2016. Before the hymns, a tifo, not very conclusive, was exposed in a bend.

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A young thirty-something woman, Julia, who was attending a football game for the first time, relativised: "It's a shame. We came close to victory. This is the first time I was interested in this sport. I am sorry but really proud. A Russian flag wrapped around solid shoulders, Denis shared this feeling: "It was unexpected before the competition. I did not believe in these players and they surprised me. It will remain a great moment.

Whether in Ekaterinburg, Samara, Moscow or Sochi, there were many Russians who were in this case. Against all odds, the good performances of their selection led them to become passionate about the World Cup. The warm atmosphere and this unprecedented influx of foreigners have also favored these last-minute accessions. Despite the obvious disappointment, the most famous mustache of the country, the coach Stanislav Tchertchessov, could savor his revenge: "We are like demobilized conscripts before the time. We were criticized before the tournament? Believe me or not, we, we believed in ourselves, and the country loved us.

A meeting sometimes soporific

Against a background of diplomatic crisis between Moscow and London, there will be no sulfur semi-final against England, July 11 at Luzhniki stadium. Croatia will be opposed to the English. Highly successful in the first round, Croatian footballers dropped significantly in the eighth (against Denmark) and quarterback. Twice they have gone close to disillusionment. Twice on goal shots smiled on them.

But Luka Modric and his band will have to find their inspiration if they want to worry the Three Lions, rather attractive this afternoon against Sweden (2-0). The Croats, who had decided not to be sucked by a Russian team positioned very low on the ground, seemed to be waiting. This gave a meeting of a very average level, sometimes soporific.

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Still, Croatia found the semi-finals, twenty years after the French World Cup, where she had been beaten by the Blues on a doubled Lilian Thuram (2-1). An incredible performance for an independent country since 1991, whose best players have long defended the colors of Yugoslavia. At the latest news, Thuram is retired and did not take Croatian nationality. By the way, what's the name of the English right-back?