Russia’s hosting of the 2018 FIFA World Cup has made a mockery of the pre-tournament headlines that said the tournament would be plagued by problems.
Did Russia win the right to host the World Cup fairly? Sepp Blatter said in 2015 there was an agreement to take the World Cup to Eastern Europe well before any voting actually occurred.
And the Russians arguably got off lightly in the ballot’s aftermath given the amount of scrutiny Qatar attracted for their bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
Perhaps there would have been more of a spotlight shone on Russia’s bid had FIFA not decided to award the tournaments in back-to-back votes.
But putting aside the dubious voting process, is it fair to suggest this World Cup has been a raging success?
The football has been spectacular, the stadiums have been full, and the Russians themselves have been warm, welcoming and generous according to those who travelled.
Where have all the hooligans been hiding? What happened to the hostile reception visiting fans were supposed to receive? And why has no one seen a shirtless Vladimir Putin riding horseback through SBS’s Red Square backdrop?
Before the tournament kicked off, Australia’s deputy prime minister Michael McCormack urged Australians to think carefully about their travel plans.
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“If you don’t need to travel to Russia at the moment then think twice, think three times about doing it,” McCormack said.
At the same time, the Australian government updated its travel advice for Russia to warn of the possibility of “anti-Western sentiment”.
Fake news? The reality seems to have been very different.
And even though not everything has gone perfectly – before the World Cup kicked off, several Australian fans reported having their visas being cancelled – it’s safe to say the Russia on show has not been quite the same as the country so regularly maligned in sensational media headlines.
It wouldn’t be the first time the Australian government has grossly underestimated the popularity of football, either.
But should we really have expected anything different?
Russia is clearly a complex nation, but it’s also the nation that gave the world Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, the Bolshoi Theatre and the Moscow Metro.
Russians are a proud people, and the complexity of their political situation aside, they were always going to welcome World Cup visitors with open arms.
Of course it helps that their national team was the surprise package of the tournament.
Could the Russians have come any closer to reaching the semi-finals? Their nerve-shattering penalty shoot-out defeat to Croatia was utterly gripping drama.
They were effectively denied by the width of the woodwork when Luka Modric’s spot-kick bounced hard off Igor Akinfeev’s outstretched hand, only to loop up and in off the post.
(Photo by Mike Kireev/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The scores would have been level had Akinfeev managed to keep that one out, but as it was Croatia went through 4-3 on penalties when Ivan Rakitic rifled his spot-kick home.
And that was on the back of one of the most dramatic games of the tournament.
Denis Cheryshev will never need to buy a drink in his homeland again after the Villareal midfielder finished the tournament with four goals to his name.
And his spectacular piledriver against Croatia was the pick of the lot, as he smashed home a curling strike to give the host nation an unexpected lead.
Russia then showed real fight to make it 2-2 in extra-time following Domagoj Vida’s scrappy goal, and it was a Brazilian-born player in Mario Fernandes who scored the all-important equaliser.
It’s a shame Fernandes blasted his subsequent spot-kick wide, even if Croatia will make more than worthy semi-finalists.
They’ll take on England, while France will face Belgium, in a couple of cracking semi-final showdowns.
It’s been a fantastic tournament. And for that we owe Russia a debt of gratitude, even if some critics probably wish that wasn’t the case.
Cool and Cold
Guest
I had read that news last year. Should China wanted USA had no chance of holding the 2026 World Cup for sure. You are right. The report says "BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told FIFA boss Gianni Infantino he hoped the Asian nation could host a World Cup “in the future”..." However, note the words: in the future. "In the future" means a polite way of declining Gianni Infantino's invitation. That is just "in the future". Not in the near future. As for Japan, I saw they took 30 years to become the Soccer power of Asia, winning 4 Asian Cups. However, the China's soccer is not a very honest one. Xi warned few years ago. Still, there is no much big change, just not as severe. Read the report in Feb 2018: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2131626/vow-dig-deep-find-corrupt-police-amid-xi-jinpings-anti How can a nation with this soccer hold a World Cup. Xi is a smart guy. He knows. In conclusion, China is not interested in holding one in the moment.
Redondo
Guest
Which Matt are you.
Matt
Guest
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-soccer/xi-tells-infantino-china-wants-to-host-world-cup-idUSKBN1951TS Xi Jinping telling Infantino he wants China to host a World Cup. Also a very interesting quote in regards to Chinese performance attributed to Xi; “The true meaning of football is not just about competition, it is more about cultivating people’s patriotism and collective fighting spirit.” It's all about propaganda for Xi, putting on an event the envy of any other, just look at what they are going to do for the 2022 Winter Olympics. I think by 30/34 we will see a much much better Chinese national team, with a ramping up of private investment in junior development and coaching starting about 5 years ago they should start seeing improved youth players and they only really need to outdo Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia to be the best team in Asia which should propel them on even further. Just a side note; the youth facilities available in China blow some of the established Premier League clubs out of the water in terms of what they offer to young players and it isn't just the facilities, these academies have been out picking up some great coaches from around the world to lead the academies and youth development. Admittedly i'm basing this off what I saw in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai but I can't explain just how good these facilities are compared to anything we have in Australia (for any sport really)
Cool and Cold
Guest
"Australia will never host a world cup" is an emotional expression. This may mean Christ may come back soon or the world ends because of other causes in the near future. It is because that "never" means 1000000000000000... years plus 10000000000000000000 years repeatedly. Scotland and Ireland to host with England may mean reconciliation to make remark of the 100 year anniversary. England can do the whole thing together? 48 team? Even USA has to host with Canada and Mexico. Maybe 32 teams? However, I mentioned 48 teams.
lesterlike
Guest
Australia will never host a world cup and England will never share hosting with Scotland and Ireland when they can do the whole thing themselves
MacHawk
Guest
So sick of the pro American/ anti Russian Australian government. If I had a choice between inviting Putin or Turnbull over to dinner it would be a close call but Putin would win out on the basis of being a hell of a lot more interesting and a slightly lesser arsehole.
Cool and Cold
Guest
"Matt said | July 9th 2018 @ 10:38pm | ! Report Why do you say China aren’t interested? All indications point to Xi Jinping personally not only wanting to host a World Cup but to win it as well." Right after Gianni Infantino took the seat of president of FIFA, he made a number of big changes: VAR, all members of FIFA to vote for the holding right of World Cup finals and 32 teams to 48 teams...etc. He also visited China right after. That 48 teams change mean for tailoring for China to hold a World Cup final. Should China wanted, she got it right the way. Imagine which country can hold such a big tournament of 48 teams? Even USA needed to partner Canada and Mexico to do so. If China wanted to hold the 2026 world cup, USA could not match. It is because that China can have more votes easily as she has many African alliances. Those alliances made Chinese Communist Party the representative in United Nations in 1971. Easy, if China is interested. The other way around, she did not bid the 2026 World Cup meaning she was interested. Even now. Later maybe. In background, China cannot do good even in the Asian Cup. How can they dare hosting the World Cup? Of course Xi is a bigger fan in soccer than me. He wants to hold and win the World Cup. But that "want" is just a "wish". I wish I am rich too, but i am not and cannot. Would you tell the indications that you have said? Any reference to any reading or report?
Norman Whiteside
Guest
Yep, that “degree in European History” says so much. Settles everything. Is Russia even part of Europe?! Like many Europeans, I’ve always seen it as being something altogether different. Like a cross betweeen Slovenia & Siberia. But far more dangerous.
Matt
Guest
Why do you say China aren’t interested? All indications point to Xi Jinping personally not only wanting to host a World Cup but to win it as well.
Matt
Guest
How exactly do you draw that conclusion? You haven’t actually read the report on MH17 have you? MH17 like the 900 other commercial flights in the week leading up to the incident was flying at a delcared safe height and in a declared safe zone. Please actually research the event before making statements in complete contradiction of the facts.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice one Mike, it has been an outstanding World Cup in every sense. Upsets, big teams faltering, incredible goals, drama, controversy, brilliant crowds & Stadiums and the host nation punching above there weight. This World Cup has surprised me how good it’s been.
Lionheart
Guest
Matt, you missed my main point. MH17 was in a place that it should not have been. In WW2 a Japanese fighter shot down a QANTAS airliner and killed several civilians. Airliners must keep away from war zones.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
A group of us from our football team originally planned to go to Russia, but changed our minds because of the uncertainty of tickets and accommodation. Ticket allocation was going to be a lottery and no guarantees about getting a visa. Turned out to be a whole lot of negative hype about nothing. Shame because there could have been a lot more Aussies in Russia for the world cup.
Cool and Cold
Guest
You have a good idea. However, 2030 is a very remarkable year in Association Football. So, the reason or rationales should be even stronger. For example, the slogan can be "home coming" it remarks return of the start of the world cup at 2030 in Uruguay. However, "home coming" can also be referring to the origin of Association Football, England. Thirdly, to remark the 100 anniversary, the host nation or area can be a new one. That means the World Cup has extend to a new territory after 100 years, say China or Oceania. The third idea above is not quite possible as China is not interested and Oceania is not the preference of FIFA. I choose England.
Onside
Guest
OK, you do the jokes
Matt R
Guest
Jeebus, I usually post on this tab under 'Matt' but will now have to change to Matt R. Fair enough to voice your opinion if you have been personally effected by a governments wrong doing but give people credit before lecturing.
anon
Roar Pro
I'm not sure if African and South American nations are really up to hosting such big events.
Matt
Guest
2014 Brasil (South America)- 2018 Russia (Europe) - 2022 Qatar (Asia) - 2026 Can/Mex/US (North America) - 2030 Uruguay/Argentina (South America) Just noting that Africa miss out on a WC that should be theirs by means of rotation (I know technically FIFA don’t do this anymore but I believe we should still aim for a semblance of rotation) and I think we can take a reasonable guess from that and say 2034/38 will go to a combination of a joint Africa bid and China. In other words it could be 24 years before we conceivably get another European WC especially with the new voting rules.
Matt
Guest
(Cont) I feel I have the right to reply to your questions and accusations and show you that I’m not blindly throwing stones and that there are serious issues surrounding the Russian government the author has skipped over.
Matt
Guest
Once again you accuse me of something (this time only mentioning MH17), get proven wrong and ignore being called out for it. Once again you ignore the question around Qatar. You ignore the question about your inference for commenting on political issues and try to push this agenda of me being on a crusade when all that has been asked is people put the World Cup hosts into context. Do you not think it’s a fair thing to do? Not just with Russia but with any country who hosts a World Cup. What better time is there to put the event into context than when they eyes of the world are on a host country? “Trust me when I say that the ultimate measure of holding Russia to account will be if the English make the final and Theresa May + members of the Royal Family continue to politically boycott the World Cup. That really will be the statement.” The clear insinuation being that the boycott is partly motivated by the death of British citizens on MH17. There was no accident about it but you jump through whatever hoops you need to justify your position Spruce as even if it was an accident the actions were commuted and can’t be undone and the perpetrators should be brought to justice something yet to happen because of the Russian government you want to defend. Nobody is accusing you or Mike or anyone of being Russian pawns or asking you to be outraged either Spruce, literally all I have asked is that people put the event into the context of events surrounding the final and the Russian government in general and answered questions about my motivations honestly. Praise them all you want by all accounts it’s been wonderful for fans and the Russian governments introduction of FanID looks like a massive improvement for travelling fans I look forward to using in the future but a journalist with a degree in European History should know better than to publish an article like this passing bad press off as “fake news” especially given the anniversary of MH17 being so close to the final and I have a right, especially seeming you asked me a question specifically and accused me of “blindly throwing stones” to start this conversation.