Russia’s equivalent of Grimsby Town overcome odds with the help of some powerful friends but crowd-pleasing morality tale is not quite what it seemsThe second-division team from a distant and ill-favoured coastal town are in the cup final. They’re playing in a big stadium against the country’s most glamorous and history-laden club. They go two goals down, and a pall of inevitability settles over the match. But then, suddenly, they start to score. The first goal receives applause. The second gets a cheer. When the third goes in, the place erupts. Related: ‘This debt must be settled’: IAAF extends Russia’s doping ban Continue reading...
Montenegro and Serbia’s historic meeting, unhappy memories for England and the Republic of Ireland, and Georgi Petkov’s international return – at 42Twelve years after Montenegro achieved independence and 11 years after they were formally recognised by Fifa, they meet Serbia for the first time. The match is, according to goalkeeper Danijel Petkovic, the biggest in the nation’s history. After two games the teams are level on points at the top of Group C4, adding competitive edge to an already spicy encounter. Serbia are far from full strength: Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojevic is one of several players to have dropped out of the squad since the World Cup after falling out with the manager, Mladen Krstajic, while the captain, Nemanja Matic,...
We rank the eight quarter-finalists in Russia with Roberto Martínez’s team at No 1 after their magnificent defeat of Brazil Would anyone have stood a chance against Belgium’s first-half evisceration of Brazil? Their front three were irresistible and in the process answered the lingering questions about Roberto Martínez’s ability to mastermind success on this stage. Martínez got his set-up spot on and, if he is similarly tuned into France’s weaknesses, his team has an outstanding chance of making the final – although Didier Deschamps will spy some susceptibility at the back, particularly when faced with pace. There will never be a better opportunity for this set of players, many of them at or approaching their peak, to confirm the promise...
Stanislav Cherchesov compared the defeat by Croatia to leaving the army when you don’t want to, though this disappointment does not diminish what the much-maligned team achieved“Who, if not you? When, if not now?” said the two banners held up at one end of the stadium during a stirring rendition of the Russian national anthem. It felt like a call to arms for a group of players who had already exceeded all expectations by hanging around at their own party for far longer than anyone imagined.The show will have to go on without the hosts, however, after Croatia broke Russia’s brave resistance, as well as their hearts, at the end of a long and draining night in Sochi to set...
Home coach goes into the opener against Saudi Arabia knowing his out-of-form side are under fire but is confident fans will embrace the World Cup once it startsStanislav Cherchesov smiled when asked by a Danish journalist whether he had a message for the Russian people on the eve of the opening match of a World Cup finals that is taking place in the largest country on the planet.“You would be hard pushed to get around the labyrinth of the Russian soul,” the Russia coach replied. “I think half the country will find out that we have a World Cup when the whistle blows. It takes a long time for us to start driving but I think when we press the...