The Russian national football team participated in the 2018 World Cup as a host country. Before the tournament, the fans did not really hope for the successful performance of Russian footballers, but in reality everything turned out differently. How did the Russian national team perform at the home World Cup in the end?
According to the results of the draw in December 2017, the Russian national team got into group A, where its rivals were Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. All these teams represented other continents and were mysterious for the Russian fan.
The Russian national team played a number of friendly matches before the tournament, following which head coach Stanislav Cherchesov announced the final application of 23 players for the tournament. Among them were both Artem Dziuba and Denis Cheryshev, who later became the real leaders of the team, although their participation in the world championship was in question.
In the first game, Russia defeated Saudi Arabia with a score of 5: 0. The real hero of the meeting was Denis Cheryshev, the midfielder of the Spanish Villarreal. He scored two very important and beautiful goals. At the same time, Denis entered the field only in the middle of the first half after the injury of Alan Dzagoev.
In the second game against the Egyptian national team, Artem Dziuba played a key role, but Denis Cheryshev also distinguished himself. As a result, the victory was won with a score of 3: 1 and the Russian national team, for the first time in modern history, guaranteed itself an exit to the 1/8 finals.
The third match against Uruguay left a mixed impression on the fans and specialists. Yes, the team lost 3: 0, but this match did not decide anything. The rival of the Russians in the 1/8 finals was the Spanish national team.
Before the game, the favorites were Spanish footballers. They include many stars of world football. But the Russian national team is very well tuned in to the game. After conceding a goal at the beginning of the match, the Russians bounced back with a penalty shot by Artem Dzyuba. Then the team heroically defended their goal and brought the meeting to a penalty shootout. And here the real star of Igor Akinfeev rose. The goalkeeper was able to repulse two hits from the penalty spot, one of them with his foot in flight. Her fans immediately dubbed Akinfeev's golden leg. And the Russian footballers scored all their strikes and presented a real surprise by reaching the ¼ finals.
At the stage of the quarterfinals, the national team of Croatia became the rival of the Russian national team. Fans across the country were eagerly awaiting the start of the match, and the players did not disappoint. They had a very good meeting and could even win in regulation time, but again there was a penalty shootout. This time Fedor Smolov and Mario Fernandez did not score against Russia, and only one Croat player could not beat the goalkeeper. Therefore, the Croatian team went further, but the Russian team gave a real holiday to all football fans in this country.
Among the players, Igor Akinfeev, Ilya Kutepov, Sergey Ignashevich, Mario Fernandez, Roman Zobnin, Alexander Golovin, Daler Kuzyaev, Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba showed themselves brilliantly.
