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'Akinfeev for president!' Compliments fly for Russia shootout savior Akinfeev
Veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was the hero of the last 16 tie between Russia and Spain with a fine double save in a 4-3 shootout win for his country, triggering a wave of praise from football fans across the country.
Akinfeev made a string of saves during the match and also kept out penalties from Spain's Koke and Iago Aspas to clinch the tie and set up a quarter-final match in Sochi against either Croatia or Denmark.
Twitter was quick to praise Akinfeev, with many joking the 32-year-old's performance was enough to make him the new president of Russia.
BREAKING NEWS: Igor Akinfeev has unanimously been named Russia's new president. Due to replace Putin come Monday. #ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/Z2ZfDFnWed
— QuarterMill Records (@QuarterMillRec) July 1, 2018
Spain going home. Russia partying deep into the night. Russian maternity wards likely full in 40 weeks. Many children named Igor Akinfeev.
— The Yanks Are Coming (@YanksAreComing) July 1, 2018
That is how to use your feet in goal.Igor Akinfeev with some stunning saves in the shootout. pic.twitter.com/KnreeuV8DI
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) July 1, 2018
Igor Akinfeev with the Jerzy Dudek shootout-winning save!#RUS #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Tu0Up4Y6Kr
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) July 1, 2018
Insane !!!!! INSANE !!!!! The Russians have done it !!!!! What a historic save from AKINFEEV !!!!! Absolutely ground out this win !!!!! Magic of sports !!!!! šš½šš½šš½šš½ #ESPRUS
— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) July 1, 2018
As penalties approach, itās worth remembering that Igor Akinfeev, the Russian goalkeeper, has always refused a move to a big foreign club because he loves "walking in birch forests and seeing the domes of churches" too much to leave Russia. #SpainVSRussia
— Tom Holland (@holland_tom) July 1, 2018
You donāt expect your goalkeeper to save penalties, but to go far in a World Cup, a goalkeeper needs to produce a few unexpected, world class saves. Akinfeev just did what De Gea couldnāt. Massive credit to the veteran. Congrats, Russia!
— Kevin Egan (@kev_egan) July 1, 2018
Take a bow Igor Akinfeev. Unbelievable goalkeeping.
— Finn Cole (@FinnCole) July 1, 2018
An own goal from Russia defender Sergei Ignashevich and an equalizer at the other end from striker Artem Dzyuba made the score 1-1 at the end of normal time.
That's the way it stayed through extra time, meaning penalties were used for the first time in the tournament to decide a knockout game, with Fedor Smolov, Ignashevich, Aleksandr Golovin and Denis Cheryshev giving Russia the win.