Russian fans celebrate once-maligned team as heroes

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — What a transformation. Russia's World Cup soccer team, metamorphosed from national laughingstock to heroes of the motherland in less than a week.

And no one is more stunned than their own fans.

Chants of "Ro-see-ya! Ro-see-ya!" reverberated through the St. Petersburg Stadium and along the nearby wind-whipped shores of the Baltic on Tuesday after Russia beat Egypt 3-1.

"Incredible!" said science student Daniil Stefaychuk.

Company manager Alexei Ivanov said fans deserve some of the credit: "When you're among your own, you're more confident."

The lowest ranked team in the World Cup, Russia is now all but guaranteed to advance to the next round.

That's a first for post-Soviet Russia, and a big boost to fans and President Vladimir Putin, who wants the tournament to help his country's image.

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