Garnet called Smolov’s “panenka” foppery in the match with Croatia at the World Cup 18

Former defender of the Russian national team Vladimir Granat told Metaratings.ru that striker Fedor Smolov foppishly took a penalty in the quarterfinal match with Croatia at the 2018 World Cup.

Smolov took the first kick of the Russians in the penalty shoot-out, but his kick was saved by the opponent’s goalkeeper. The meeting ended with the victory of the Croats (2:2, on pen. 4:3).

– The quarter-final with Croatia was remembered by Smolov’s unscoring penalty. He himself said in an interview with Nobel Arustamyan that he failed that world championship even before the panenka. You from that team knew Smolov, probably the longest since the days of Dynamo. What happened to him?

“Perhaps there is a little fault of mine. Both at the training camp and in friendly matches, it was clear that this was not the same Smolov who scored against Spain and France the year before. I had to somehow direct him in the right direction, talk, maybe stuff him, but it didn’t work out. From the first match, we saw that this is not the Fedya we are used to seeing.

– Why didn’t they try to talk to Smolov then? Didn’t want to get into Fedya’s head?

– It was evident that Fedya was not in the right emotional state, he did not want to pull him once again.

– Then Smolov and Gabulov grappled in the shower. Emotions were at the limit?

– Yes, then emotions were at the limit. But if you talk to Gabulov now, he will understand that the missed penalties of Smolov and Fernandez are the same result. More because of the performance, such emotions were manifested in the address of Fedya. Hit it above the gate, it would be different. It was foppishness on the part of Smolov, said Garnet.