BSP-08 Russia ride wave of World Cup euphoria into Uruguay clash

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Russia ride wave of World Cup euphoria into Uruguay clash

MOSCOW, June 24, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – World Cup hosts Russia are surfing a
wave of national euphoria as they head into Monday’s encounter against two-
time champions Uruguay after delighting their fans with a scintillating start
to the tournament.

Written off as no-hopers before the World Cup, Russia head to the Volga
River city of Samara for a game which will see the winner secure top spot in
Group A following the elimination of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

A draw would also be good enough to give Russia first place, thanks to the
eight goals from two matches that have made believers out of fans used to
decades of World Cup futility.

Both teams then face the likely prospect of going up against either Spain
or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the last 16 — although underdogs Iran are
still in the running in a tight Group B.

Uruguay however are likely to provide the type of stern test Russia will
need to overcome if they are launch an extended run in the knockout rounds.

Yet the hosts are brimming with confidence having made it past the group
stage of a World Cup for the first time since the Soviet Union lost to
Belgium in the last 16 in 1986.

– ‘Mission not accomplished’ –

Russia had won just two of nine World Cup matches before kicking off the
most watched event on the planet with a 5-0 rout of the Saudis.

Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko — the former sports minister who still
oversees football in an unofficial capacity — said the squad had no right to
relax.

“Our mission has still not been accomplished,” Mutko said after watching a
team training session on the outskirts of a muggy Moscow.

“We would like to get into the knockout stage from first place.”

Russia followed their Saudi thrashing by limiting Egypt’s star striker
Mohamed Salah — nursing a shoulder injury but always dangerous — to one
goal in an impressive 3-1 win last Tuesday in Saint Petersburg.

Salah was contained by a Russian defence that had lost three starters and
was forced to call back 38-year-old Sergei Ignashevich from international
retirement.

Ignashevich turns 39 on the eve of the final on July 15 that Russia retain
improbable dreams of playing in. Few believe they will.

A poll conducted in the wake of their win over Egypt showed just 14
percent think Russia can lift the trophy.

It was 11 percent when coach Stanislav Cherchesov’s charges were plodding
their wave through a seven-match winless streak that saw their ranking slip
to a tournament-worst 70th.

But Cherchesov always thought Russia were underrated and a triumph over
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani would do more to prove the
mustachioed manager right.

It would also see Russia looking more confidently at the permutations of
whom they might encounter in the quarter-finals.

The possibilities there range from France and Argentina to an impressive
looking Croatia.

Midfielder Denis Cheryshev has been one of the World Cup’s big discoveries
and a natural leader on a team without stars.

“We have to be very happy with our wins,” said the 27-year-old. “But but
this is just the start.”

BSS/AFP/MSY/0902 hrs