Half-time ceremony for Russia player celebrating 100 caps cancelled after own goal in defeat to Costa Rica
Vasili Berezutski had his big day ruined after inadvertently deflecting cross past goalkeeper in new Krasnodar stadium
RUSSIA’S Vasili Berezutski had his big day ruined during the 4-3 friendly defeat to Costa Rica.
The 34-year-old was making his 101st appearance for his country in a newly-built stadium in Krasnodar.
And there was a ceremony prepare for half-time to celebrate Berezutski’s achievement in winning a century of caps.
However, he plucky defender netted an own goal just before break to put the Central Americans 3-1 up — and the ruthless Russian FA CANCELLED the celebrations.
Berezutski inadvertently deflected a cross past his goalkeeper.
That may seem harsh, but the Eastern Europeans are in the middle of a football crisis — and have little time for ‘charity’.
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Despite a spirited second-half fightback, Costa Rica held on to win 4-3.
Russia are desperate to pick up form ahead of the 2018 World Cup, which they are hosting.
In 2008, the country's football seemed to be on the up after Zenit St. Petersburg won the Uefa Cup — beating Bayern Munich 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals — and defeating Manchester United in the Uefa Super Cup.
Meanwhile, the national team impressed at that summer’s Euros after they eliminated Holland and reached the last-four.
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Russia failed at the first hurdle in Euro 2012 before failing to win a single match at the 2014 World Cup — going out to Algeria.
And, at Euro 2016, they finished bottom of a group which included Wales, England and Slovakia.
Incidentally, Berezutski scored Russia’s last-gasp equaliser against the Three Lions in France.