Russia throws off isolation as it gears up for World Cup
Thursday, 7 June 2018
MOSCOW, June 06 (AFP): Russia throws opens its doors for the World Cup in a week's time, with superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi performing in a country sharply at odds with some of the participating countries.
The month-long celebration of the world's most popular sport has been haunted by fears over racism and violence as well as diplomatic spats.
But Vladimir Putin has left no stone unturned making sure the biggest event Russia has seen since Moscow's 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics seduces a sceptical world.
Twelve sparkling stadiums in 11 cities spanning the European portion of the world's largest country are ready after getting their last licks of paint.
The host nation will kick off the action against Saudi Arabia on June 14 in the 80,000-capacity Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, the historic crucible of Soviet and Russian sport, which will also host the final.
Brazil's Neymar has recovered from a long-term injury to join Argentina's Messi and Portugal's Ronaldo to fight for the right to lift the trophy on July 15.
Almost every second person on Earth tuned into the last edition of the spectacular in Brazil in 2014.
That tournament saw the hosts suffer a traumatic 7-1 beating by Germany in the semi-finals that left a nation obsessed by football in shock.
Eventual champions Germany and Brazil again top a list of favourites that also includes Spain and past winners Argentina and France.
Russia's chances of doing something special are modest. The hosts are the second-lowest ranked team of the 32 in the final and are riven by internal squabbles and injuries.
Putin counters that Russia will come out tops simply by pulling off the most expensive World Cup ever staged while struggling under the weight of international sanctions.
"The organisers," said Putin when asked to pick this year's likely winner.
The West's penalties are a response to an ever more aggressive foreign policy Putin has pushed in the eight years since securing the hosting rights over England in a vote tainted by bribery charges.