The impassioned shouts of “Ros-si-ya” died away on the streets and tears filled the stadium as Russia bowed out of its home World Cup in the cruellest fashion: on penalties.
The men in red exceeded the wildest expectations by coming within a penalty kick and a save against Croatia of making it into the semifinals for the first time since 1966. It lost the quarterfinal shootout 4-3 after extra-time ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
It was that close — and it all ended just as the nation was starting to believe. “We leave the tournament with tears in our eyes but our heads held high,” the team tweeted as the stadium emptied of the 45,000 or so who had lost their voices cheering them on.
They had reason to be proud.
‘Champion of our hearts’
Russia was the lowest-ranked team entering the tournament and many in the sceptical media thought it would be lucky to win a game. The team trudged off the pitch after making it to the quarterfinal for the first time in 48 years. A semifinal was within grasp and the loss stung.
IN PICTURES: Croatia vs Russia
But the Russian team showed heart and won what seemed like the entire nation's gratitude. “The champions of our hearts,” the popular Sport Express daily said in a headline. Then it paid it the highest compliment possible by declaring: “Russia knows how to play football.”
Empty feeling
Fans who had been dancing in the streets after a heart-pounding shootout win over 2010 champion Spain in the last 16 last Sunday were gloomy but grateful. The nation was mourning on Saturday — but also paying its respects.
Chants of “Mo-lod-tsy” — an almost untranslatable word of praise and thanks that roughly means “Good job, guys” — echoed across the dark streets of Moscow and other cities. “What can I say? It's a pity we are out of this tournament but I am very proud of my team,” said Muscovite Alexander Khramoichenkov. “I'm very proud of Russia,” the 34-year-old said.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the team's performance “magnificent” after the watching the game from a VIP box with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. He came down into the players' locker room and suggested that Russian football would never be its disappointing old self again.
“We will simply have a different type of football after this,” he said. “I am absolutely certain of this.”
But coach Stanislav Cherchesov — his moustache becoming the unofficial symbol of Russia's Cinderella waltz through the tournament — seemed visibly distraught. “I am still not myself yet,” he admitted after listening to a press conference question and then being unable to say a word.
Midfielder Roman Zobnin sounded very similar moments after he walked off the pitch. “I have no emotions left. I left them all out there,” he said with difficulty. “I feel empty inside.”
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