In a land where goalkeepers are revered, Russia’s number one Igor Akinfeev inspired the World Cup hosts to an unlikely penalty shootout victory against highly fancied Spain. The result sparked wild celebrations across Russia. The mood was optimistic but still probably nobody among the packed crowd would believe it if you told them: in 20 minutes’ time, Igor Akinfeev will write his own new heroic chapter for Russia, the World Cup hosts who were so widely expected to fail before this special tournament started.
Now they are in the quarter-finals for the first time in 48 years after a dramatic penalty shootout win over 2010 champions Spain in which CSKA Moscow goalkeeper and Russia captain Akinfeev saved two spot-kicks.
Everyone else spilled into the streets too, out from whichever place they watched.
When the match was under way all you could hear outside was birdsong and a few distant cries from some faraway open window. Now it felt like the whole city was celebrating. Children with mouths dropped open and eyes spread wide watched their parents dance with strangers and get doused in beer. Passengers shouted “ROSSIYA!” while holding flags to the wind and leaning deep towards the sun setting on the Volga down below. Bedtime would be late for everyone.
Russia will meet Croatia in the quarter-final of the World Cup in Sochi on Saturday.