Russia World Cup Notebook - Day 7

Moscow turns into one big party zone

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Russia’s 3-1 win over Egypt on Tuesday in a Group A match at St Petersburg triggered huge celebrations in Moscow.

Russian fans poured out onto the streets of Russia’s capital city waving flags coloured white, red and blue while motorists in Moscow’s main street Tverskaya chanted Russia! Russia!

And drove with full lights, horns blaring. Outside Spartak Stadium, the fans walked an inch taller, with a slight spring in their steps.

Russia are firmly on course for a place in the last 16 of the tournament, having earlier beaten Saudi Arabia 5 -0.

Dreadlocked Lion of Teranga marches on

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Senegal’s coach Aliou Cisse stands out among his peers, not just for his dreadlocks and lanky stature (well, he can literally see further than other coaches here) but also for his ability to get players to believe in themselves, just as Polish players.

On Monday during Teranga Lions’ match against Poland, he shouted something from the touchline to his defenders that had them fighting like wounded lions, effectively locking out Robert Lewandowski.

Jamaicans here are now claiming the, 42-year-old dreadlocked Senegalese coach is one of their own.

Bad man? Not our Putin, says Russians

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Whether you ask them about Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the country’s involvement in the war in Syria or Russia’s diplomatic tiff with USA and United Kingdom that led to a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats from these countries, most Russians like president Vladimir Putin’s firm and decisive leadership.

Many acknowledge the country’s economic problems and poor human rights record, but most are firmly behind Putin as the man to fix their problems. Putin has presided over relative economic progress amid biting trade restrictions.

Let’s dance, play; we are having good fan

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When Senegal beat Poland in a Group H match at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium, all fans of African teams present in the stadium celebrated.

Dreadlocked coach Aliou Cisse jumped high in the air and repeatedly pumped his fist in the air, while Niang Mbaye, scorer of Senegal’s first goal, knelt down in prayer.

A bare-chest Liverpool star Sadio Mane led Teranga Lions in acknowledging cheers from two sets of the team’s outnumbered but noisy fans who had been tucked in between Polish fans all afternoon. A team jig at the end of the tie capped it all.