Out of the 60 football games played in this World Cup, the football governing body FIFA named hosts Russia as the best defending team so far.
Russia was knocked out of the competition by Croatia on Saturday, leaving the country disappointed but inspired by their team's unexpected performance. Croatia will now face off with England, and France with Belgium, in the semifinals this week for a chance to lift the trophy on July 15, the last day of the tournament.
With four games left in the tournament, FIFA's statistics show Russia as the best defending team with 259 clearances, tackles and saves in its five matches.
The team, led by coach Stanislav Cherchesov, scored the third largest number of goals of all competing countries, while other teams scored seven goals against Russia.
Russian midfielder Roman Zobnin covered the most distance during games, at 62 kilometers, FIFA’s statistics show.
And with four goals each, Denis Cheryshev tied as the third-top scorer with Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku.
FIFA awards the titles for the tournament’s top scorer, best player, best goalkeeper, most disciplined team and best young footballer after the final.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
