ZCZC
BSP-02
PORTUGAL-RUSSIA-WC
Portugal’s ex-striker Nuno Gomes says ‘happy for Russia’ at 2018 FIFA
WC
MOSCOW, July 3, 2018 (BSS/TASS)- The Russian national football team is capable of beating Croatia in the quarterfinals match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Saturday at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi, Portugal’s famous ex-forward Nuno Gomes told TASS on Monday.
“You can beat Croatia, because I think Croatia is playing a little bit like Spain,” Gomes, who played for the national team of Portugal at two FIFA World Cup editions and two UEFA Euro Cup tournaments, said in an interview with TASS.
“Work hard and believe in yourself that everything is possible.” “First of all, the team has to keep the feet on the ground, because if they beat Spain, they cannot think that they can beat everybody,” the world’s famous footballer said.
The Russian national football team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after edging Spain on 4-3 penalties’ win following 1-1 draw in the main time and the scoreless overtime period of the spectacular match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday night.
Later that night, the Croatian team also edged the squad from Denmark in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in the main and extra time of the match in the city of Nizhny Novgorod.
Asked whether he was surprised at all with Russia’s victory over Spain, who are the 2010 world champions, Gomes told TASS “To tell you the truth it was not a big surprise.”
“Of course before the game most of the people, even Russians, they were like – okay, it’s Spain and we are out,” he said. “But the players did very well, the coach did very well and during the game they saw that they were capable to win.”
“Sometimes, when you know that you are weaker than the opponent, but you work hard, you succeed sometimes and of course you need a little bit of luck,” the 41-year-old former striker of the Portuguese football team said.
“They (Russia) did very well and I am happy because the Russians are happy. “Football does not guarantee that even if you are stronger you must win. It was a good example that if you work hard then you can beat stronger teams,” according to Gomes.
Speaking about the Russian football players, the Portuguese striker particularly mentioned goalkeeper Igor Akenfeev, who made two saves last night during the penalty shootout with Spain bringing his team a ticket for the quarterfinals stage.
“Your goalkeeper is fantastic, he gives confidence to the team and it is amazing,” Gomes added. A total of 32 national football teams entered the 2018 FIFA World Cup and only 16 of them proceeded to the knockout phase after the group stage, which kicked off on June 14 and ended on June 28.
According to FIFA’s official statistics, the total number of fans at all stadiums during 48 matches of the group stage came to 2,178,894 people, which carries an average of 45,394 at each match.
The national teams, which have already cleared the round of Last 16, are hosts Russia, Croatia, Uruguay, France and Brazil.
In the course of 48 matches played matches during this World Cup’s group stage, a total of 122 goals were scored (2.54 per match on the average), with the national team of Belgium scoring the most in its three group stage matches (nine goals).
BSS/TASS/AU/07:10 hrs