Former Russian national team defender Vladimir Granat admitted to Metaratings.ru that he did not expect to come on as a substitute in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Spain.

The meeting took place five years ago, on July 1, 2018. In the main and extra time of the match at Luzhniki, a draw was recorded – 1: 1, and in the penalty shootout, the Russians were stronger – 4: 3. The decisive penalty kick was saved by goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev with the toe of his boot.

– Before this game, you spent the entire tournament as a substitute. How did you know that you will go out in the second half? What did they experience then?

– I did not expect that I would go out in that match. In the first half, it was not clear that someone falls out and cannot continue the game. But during a break in the room under the stands, the head of the team told me to prepare for the exit instead of Yura Zhirkov. I took the necessary ammunition, drank some energy drinks and went to warm up. Yes, then I was very excited, but with the first touches after entering the field, the jitters went away.

– You felt the pressure of the Spaniards for more than an hour. What was the hardest thing about them?

– I was lucky that before that I played in Rostov according to the same scheme with five defenders. We defended just as deeply against Bayern as against Spain. This is probably the main reason that I was not so worried. I repeat, because Spain did not play as strong as they could, so we all had time on the field – to rebuild and secure each other.

Who was the most difficult to deal with? Diego Costa is one of the most cocky strikers of those years. Provoked?

— No, there was nothing like that. Plus, the Spaniards did not have an individually sharp and fast football player, which Bayern had Douglas Costa. Yes, they had such masters as Isco and Asensio, but in terms of speed they are inferior to the best strikers in the world. Therefore, it was easier for us to cope with the pressure of the Spaniards.

– The hardest match in your career in terms of responsibility?

– Psychologically, it was a difficult match, because it’s hard to come on as a substitute in such a game and almost all the time to be without the ball. But football is such that you have to participate in different matches, unless you play in a mega club that constantly plays with the ball, Garnet said.

The Russian national team at the home tournament reached the ¼ finals, where they lost on penalties to the Croatian national team.