If anybody wonders why football even has something like a home advantage, this match can serve as a proper example. The hosts filled the stadium to capacity, and the home fans saw to it that their team never felt the pressure of a moment as big as this.
Towards the end of the extra time, the camera zoomed in on the Russia substitutes asking the fans to get louder – which was surprising considering how loud they already were – but the fans obliged, making the atmosphere get even electric.
On the outside, it might seem like such a trivial thing but the importance of the crowd support cannot be ignored – all the more so considering this is Russia’s first time in the knockout stage of the tournament.
While Russia getting out of the group was in itself a moment to be proud of, the manner in which they progressed to the next round will make them all the more famous among the home support.