Ahead of the opening match at the 2018 World Cup, Russian fans were pessimistic about their national team’s chances at the quadrennial tournament. Their team had not won in the last seven matches and looked uninspired during their final warm-up matches. Many expected Russia to join South Africa as the only host nation not to reach the knockout stage in World Cup history.
This attitude towards the Russian team was extinguished when they dominated Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening match of the tournament. The team then followed it up with an emphatic 3-1 victory against Egypt, a team backed by one of the best footballers in the world, Mohamed Salah. The two victories guaranteed Russia a spot in the knockout stage of the tournament, and caused the entire nation to celebrate their unlikely success.
Even former UFC fighter Jeff Monson, a naturalized Russian citizen, was pleasantly surprised by the Russian team’s performance.
”I have never been fond of football, but today Russia is my home, and of course I support the national team at the World Cup,” Monson told Rsport. “Like many, I’m surprised at how well the team started in the tournament.”
Russia’s impressive start at the 2018 World Cup — eight goals in two matches — is both impressive and unexpected, and while the host nation will likely face Spain or Portugal in the knockout stage of the tournament, Monson predicts the team will make an even deeper run in the tournament.
”Obviously, the Russian team will be able to reach the quarterfinals or even further.”