Russia go from zeroes to heroes as hosts defy odds to close on World Cup last 16

Whatever confidence the Russian people had in defying preconceptions and exceeding expectations at this World Cup, few thought that could extend to the actual football itself.

The domestic generation born after the Soviet Union’s dissolution in December 1991 are desperate to present their country in an alternative light to the one blighted by corruption, violence, discrimination and political hostility often portrayed in the west.

This tournament is not yet a week old but nevertheless it can boast a promising start in the absence of any issues relating to security or fan behaviour.

And if that ranks as a surprise, given widespread concerns raised in the build-up, it is superseded by the remarkable performance of the Russia team, all but certain of their place in the last 16 after this 3-1 win against Egypt here in Saint Petersburg.

The final question in last night’s post-match press conference came from Russian journalist Maria Komandnaya, who co-hosted the World Cup draw with Gary Lineker. She told coach Stanislav Cherchesov that the country “is in love with you” and that many on social media “are calling you the King”. Nobody tell Vladimir Putin.

How things have changed. Ahead of the opening game against Saudi Arabia, the Moscow Times last week described this current team as “drawn from the worst generation in the history or Russian football” and “doomed to fail”

Aleksandr Golovin carried the hopes of a nation on his 22-year-old shoulders and while he was central to Russia’s attacking play, the key to their progress has been the unexpected improvement in other areas of the team.

Russia had not won a game in 2018 prior to beating Saudi Arabia 5-0 and so to back to it up against Egypt, with a second-half blitz of three goals in 15 second-half minutes, was more than many locals could have hoped for.

Egypt pinned their hopes on Mohamed Salah defying a preparation blighted by injury to inspire them to a much-needed victory. But he was palpably, and understandably, short of match fitness.

Salah scored a 73rd-minute penalty awarded on VAR review but by that point the damage was done. Among those stepping up to carry the responsibility with Golovin is Artem Dzyuba.The striker, 29, is all hustle and bustle, bullying defenders and only too willing to make a nuisance of himself at every opportunity. He is rapidly gaining cult hero status, having come off the bench to score against the Saudis and here managing to put Ahmed Fathi off his stride sufficiently to turn the ball into his net with a 47th-minute opener.

Midfielder Denis Cheryshev has been a bit-part player for years, yet this morning he sat alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as the tournament’s top goalscorer, after side-footing home Russia’s second goal to end a well-worked move.

Dzyuba proved there is class to accompany his clout by stroking home a third three minutes later and although Salah belatedly made his presence felt, the party had long since started.

The suspicion remains an elite side will expose Russia’s weaknesses — particularly at the back where 38-year-old Sergey Ignashevich and Ilya Kutepov have to be the slowest centre-back pairing at these finals. But for now, Roman Zobnin is proving to be an unexpectedly adept midfield anchor alongside the highly-effective Yury Gazinsky, who was criticised prior to the tournament.

There is no criticism now. Car horns, chants and a sea of Russian flags decorated the famous Nevsky Prospekt street, which runs through the heart of the country’s second city, well into the early hours of this morning.

Fans from all countries joined in with chants of ‘Rus-si- a’, as thoughts turned to a last-16 clash with, probably, Portugal or Spain. They will be underdogs but defying conventional wisdom has always been Russia’s aim.