Hosting the World Cup has, generally speaking, been good for the national team, often leading to victory and if not at least currying favour with the neutrals.
Russia, however, may well be the exception to the rule.
The 2018 finals are being held at a time of global instability and the political issues of the host nation have left a large divide across the world.
Coupled with ongoing issues with racism and hooliganism that surround the Russian game there is not a lot for neutrals to warm to at present.
Their history is rich on the international stage ever since the great Soviet side of Lev Yashin & co burst onto the world stage in 1958, right through to the entertaining (yet underachieving) side of 1986, Russia were not a footballing side to be taken lightly.
Even in the 90s and naughties following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia’s side regularly featured household names who graced some of Europe’s greatest sides such as Valery Karpin, Viktor Onopko and Alexey Smertin.
However, the current squad is ageing and lacks any real depth, not to mention the lack of a standout player.
Of that team only three play outside of Russia and none of those are at what you would call the top table of European football (although I may be doing Villarreal’s Denis Cheryshev a disservice).
What they would give for a Sergei Aleinikov, Aleksandr Mostovoi or an Oleh Blokhin now.
On six occasions the hosts have won the tournament (Uruguay, Italy, England West Germany, Argentina and France) but it is difficult to see Russia matching that feat.
In fact, only once has the host nation failed to get beyond the group stages (South Africa in 2010) but there is a real feeling that feat could be matched by Russia this year.
Russia has a seemingly reasonable group but can anybody really see them beating Uruguay and Egypt to progress to the knockout phase?
Their opening game against Saudi Arabia is already a must win game and the nation is expectant.
Vladimir Putin is the leading patriot of this vast nation and the players will be under no illusion that he and the rest of Russia will be expecting success when hosting the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza.
Whether they have the ability or can deal with the pressure is another thing altogether.
