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MOSCOW – Russia's surprise victory over Spain at the World Cup turned Moscow into a giant street party and the Kremlin was eager to join the party.
The national team is doing well and reached the quarterfinals on Sunday. win in a penalty shootout. On top of that, Russia turns out to be a successful and welcoming host.
And with the anticipation of a Russia-United States. summit the day after the final of the tournament, President Vladimir Putin is feeding on good news. Even protests against a government plan to raise the retirement age were stifled by cheers.
Tens of thousands of Russians invaded the streets of Moscow Sunday night after Russia defeated Spain 4-3 on penalties. The fans, often agitated or wrapped in the Russian flag, hugged each other, plunged into the fountains, climbed the streetlamps and shouted loudly.
The excitement of Russia facing the 2010 World Cup champions Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, compared street celebrations in Moscow marking the defeat of Nazi Germany during the Second World War
. The Olympics have been tarnished by medals that have been removed from the country for doping.
"Like the whole country, Putin watched the game from start to finish and encouraged our team," Peskov told reporters on Monday. "He applauded, like all Russians, with all his heart."
With the economy hit by sanctions and Russia-West relations to troughs of the post-cold-war era, Sunday's match was a rare break. 19659009] "The negative rating of Russia is high … but here you have a obviously positive event that is quite difficult to challenge," said Alexander Baunov, an analyst at the Carnegie Center in Moscow. "The victory of the national team is a victory for any government, whether it is the Kremlin or not."
Masha Lipman, an independent political analyst, said the defeat of Spain was far more a victory of the Russians than of the Kremlin.
"Putin did not win.It is the national team that won," said Lipman, adding that spectators and supporters shouted the names of the key players and the # 39; head coach and not Putin.
On social networks, liberal Russians have engaged in heated debate. One can remain critical of the government while celebrating the victory of the national team.
The leader of the Russian opposition Alexey Navalny, who has just finished another incarceration for organizing anti-government demonstrations, was in the camp of those celebrating. 19659014] "Yeeeees", he tweeted after the game. "We should hold a series of rallies to demand that (Russian goalkeeper Igor) Akinfeev be made Hero of Russia."
Meanwhile, a US congressional delegation was in St. Petersburg to meet with the local governor before the high-level talks in Moscow. Richard Shelby, a Republican senator from Alabama who heads the delegation, said he and his colleagues were hoping to see Putin during the visit, reported the Russian news agency Tass. Neither the Kremlin nor the US Embassy would comment.
President Putin's visit with President Donald Trump on July 16 in Helsinki was not related to the World Cup, but helped to reinforce the general feeling of optimism. "Let's not take things in hand and talk about a thaw, but it's gratifying to see that contacts are intensifying," Peskov says.
Lipman suggested that officials from some European countries, who boycotted the opening ceremony, may end up supporting their teams towards the end of the championship if their teams are doing well. But that does not magically solve all of Russia's problems on the world stage.
"Naturally, Putin will score points here, but if we talk about serious decisions such as sanctions … that will not change." Lipman says. "
When the World Cup is over, the Russians, and Putin, may wake up with a headache.Putin 's score has dropped in recent weeks after the government decided to raise the retirement age significantly, announced decision the day the US government announced that it will not be possible. Russian national team defeated Saudi Arabia 5-0 on World Cup Day 1. According to Lipman, pension reform is on the agenda and dominates public debate
The first reaction (to pension reform) has been softened, but the problem is here to stay, "said Mr. Lipman.
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Associated Press reporter James Ellingworth contributed to this story
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More coverage of the Coupe du AP World: www.apnews.com/tag/WorldCup
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