MOSCOW: Even though the game finished late, some newspapers in Moscow carried it in their Wednesday editions. Metro, a tabloid that is formatted for the metro commuters, had a poster of Artem Dzyuba on the first page. Sport Express had the headline, ‘Stars you are like space’. A fellow Russian journalist helped with the translation and explained, “When referring to something special, we often use the word cosmos.”
ALSO READ: Russia beat Egypt 3-1The hosts, lowest-ranked in the tournament, were sniggered at for their desultory form of late. They have eight goals in two games. In comparison, Argentina managed to score just one and so did Brazil, from the one they have played.
Stanislav Cherchesov
’s Russian team has surprised Russians more than the world. The youth on the street have found their voice, the only weapon to counter the football invaders.
ALSO READ: Russia on brink of next stage“It is not an accident that we have two wins under our belt, we have a group of solidarity,” said coach Stanislav Cherchesov. “We will win because we want to,” he had said on Day One. Two great moves sealed the victory. A beautiful run and a pass from Mario Fernandes to help
Denis Cheryshev
score his third of the tournament; then some great technique from Dzyuba in the box, followed by his famous salute.
A sports writer from Komsmolskaya Pravda told TOI that the team did not exude confidence during the build-up to the tournament. “But the coach knew what he was doing. It is some magic.” The possibility of advancing to the Round of 16 is a reality now for the Russians, who are facing the happy situation after 32 years. But Dzyuba feels it’s still not time to talk about the last 16.
“Let us not talk about the next stage now and simply rejoice and celebrate this moment and this victory,” the 29-year-old Russian forward, who scored the third goal for Russia at the St Petersburg Stadium, said. The third goal for Russia came through an own goal by Egypt’s captain Ahmed Fathy. Egypt’s consolation was scored by Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot.
“We pressed them across the whole pitch, did not let them pass the ball. It was a very good and a strong match,” Dzyuba told journalists. “Our opponents never gave up, but neither did we. It was a tacky fight.” Russia came into the World Cup without a win from seven friendlies and coach Cherchesov, in his first press conference before the inaugural World Cup game, pleaded for support from the citizens. He had joked how not to wish him luck, which is feminine in Russian, and that he would rather be wished success.
Gathering a rag tag bunch and making them a fighting unit is what Cherchesov, sporting a Yul Brynner style, did over the last few months. Mostly homegrown players comprise the Russian team, barring Denis Cheryshev, who is riding a crest with three goals. No one is even talking about Alexandr Kokorin, Russia’s top striker who is missing the World Cup with injury.
Gifted with silky skills, Villarreal’s Cheryshev has surprised one and all with his goal-scoring prowess. Records only show how poor he has been in the last two seasons, having managed only two La Liga goals. Before the World Cup, he had not scored in international football in 11 appearances.