{"id":1902,"date":"2018-06-29T22:29:56","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T15:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/?p=1902"},"modified":"2019-03-25T00:11:16","modified_gmt":"2019-03-24T17:11:16","slug":"a-birds-eye-view-of-the-fifa-world-cup-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/2018\/06\/29\/a-birds-eye-view-of-the-fifa-world-cup-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"A birds-eye view of the FIFA World Cup 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, I’m off to see my first matches in the FIFA World Cup in Russia. <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Would you like to be a crazy soccer fan and join me?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Yes, I know all the advice was to be careful and to think not once, not twice, but three times about going (Australian Deputy Prime Minister) but it really is a lot of fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"We were en-route to take the excellent Moscow Metro direct to the stadium, but diverted towards a large crowd of Moroccans congregated outside Red Square, making quite a din! It’s a raucous lively atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Russian Police are there in huge numbers and are possibly quite bemused, not that they’d show it. The European newspapers have been making\u00a0much of the fact that in Russia, large (political) gatherings are forbidden, and a special exception is being made for rowdy soccer fans. Perhaps the Russian police are going into new territory?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Or maybe the football crowds are going into new territory, one gets the impression that no-one is going to try complete over-exuberance\u00a0in Russia. We are after all under the watchful eye of those in the nearby Kremlin. <\/span><\/p>\n

Good Morning Mr Putin!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We tear ourselves away and follow the happy rowdy singers into the Moscow Metro, there was no need to plan the route just follow the crowds.<\/p>\n

The Metro is free for all fans wearing their fan ID. The trains are coming thick and fast, they say every 90 seconds.<\/p>\n

Every train ride I take to and from matches, I get a seat on the train, how amazing is that?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It wouldn’t happen on Melbourne on a normal day let alone when 80,000 people are trying to get to a sports match!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We are one hodgepodge of brightly coloured football-shirted humanity and a few unfortunate Russians with an ill-timed journey. As the singing reaches a crescendo middle-aged Russian Mumma’s are seen filming\u00a0event with a big grin.<\/p>\n

The Russian people look happy to have their capital city overrun by World Cup fever.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Luzhniki Stadium: Portugal V Morrocco 20 June 2018<\/p><\/div>\n

We snake out of the Metro towards Luzhniki Stadium, just us and 79,997 other fans. The venue is the Grand Dame of Russian Stadiums. No stranger to big events, the 1980 Olympics were held here, and various other football finals – the UEFA Cup, and Champions League. It is exciting for us as is the venue chosen to host the World Cup final.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Our second Moscow match is held at Spartak Stadium is smaller, more intimate, holding only 45,000 Belgium and Tunisian fans, it is\u00a0purpose-built\u00a0for club football and quite a vertical hike to the very back row to find our seats. The advantage of this is there is no-one behind to chuck beer all over us as we were told might happen, but actually never did!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We learn the hard way that we should have read the rules…<\/p>\n

What not to take to the stadiums?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n