MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. On Saturday, the penultimate day of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Belgium defeated England to take the bronze, while organizers gathered for a special meeting to sum up the event’s results.
The World Cup, which began on July 14, will end with the final clash between Croatia and France at Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium on Sunday.
During a video linkup to sum up the results of the global tournament, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Russia-2018 Arkady Dvorkovich said the event demonstrated Russia’s openness to foreign guests.
"We are an open and friendly country. We have taken the responsibility for each guest and coped with this task. I think that the majority of foreign guests and citizens are pleased," he said.
The official expressed hope that Russia would continue hosting major international football events.
LOC Director General Alexei Sorokin said no incidents were reported during World Cup games.
"We did it in a calm, friendly and polite manner. Good result," he said.
Dvorkovich added that security was at the top level due to modern technologies, including the introduction of Fan ID cards, video surveillance systems, operative data analysis and cooperation with law-enforcement bodies from various countries.
Perisic skips Team Croatia’s pre-final training
On Saturday, Croatia trained at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow ahead of the upcoming World Cup final with France. Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic, who scored against England in the semi-final, skipped the training.
Croatian head coach Zlatko Dalic told reporters that some of players have suffered minor injuries ahead of the final.
"There’s nothing else that we can train. At the moment, some footballers have minor injuries and problems, but I’m sure they will be able to play," he said. ‘Right now we need to have some rest and concentrate on the play."
Team France held its training in full strength. Head coach Didier Deschamps said members of the team will need self-confidence, peace of mind and concentration, adding that "Playing in the final is a great privilege by itself."
"Nothing can be better," he added.
Belgium wins first-ever World Cup bronze
On Saturday, Belgium secured their best ever finish at a soccer World Cup. The team defeated England 2-0 in a match for the third place in Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg.
Thomas Meunie scored the first goal in the 4th minute and Eden Hazard planted the ball in the net in the 82nd minute.
Belgium has never made it through to the final, but in 1986 the team finished fourth losing to France 2-4 in overtime at the FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
The final match of the championship for the much-coveted World Cup Trophy brings together the teams from France and Croatia and will be played on Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow starting at 6:00 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT).
Anti-Russian myths dispelled
On Saturday, Russia’s famous Bolshoi Theatre hosted a gala concert dedicated to the closing of the FIFA World Cup. Among other high-ranking guests, it was visited by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
In his speech in the run-up to the concert, Putin said the tournament was a success.
"Russia was getting ready for the championship substantially and responsibly, and we are sincerely glad that it has been a success and has united millions of people," Putin said. "Our efforts have been properly praised by the athletes, who were offered the best conditions for showcasing their best capabilities, and by media representatives, since the staff of the championship’s eleven media centers were working round the clock to help them, and certainly, by the fans."
Putin emphasized that "coming to Russia to support their national teams, they embodied the diversity of an international football family. However, the main thing is that that they demonstrated their best features, which are friendship, spiritual unity, loyalty to the principles of sport and the ideals of equality and mutual respect."
"We are thrilled that our guests saw everything with their eyes and that myths and prejudice collapsed," he said.
"The FIFA World Cup, just like other major international sporting events, has a unique power to unite people and to unleash the full potential of the so-called people’s diplomacy, which at all times has contributed to the prosperity of our planet, our common home," the Russian leader added.
He thanked "everyone, who took part in making the decision to hold the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and personally [FIFA President Gianni] Infantino for the opportunity to stage such a high-profile event.
In response, Infantino vowed to learn Russian and visit Russia later. He also thanked the host nation for hospitality.