We went out in Moscow last night and the scenes were absolutely biblical
I swear you will never see anything like this ever again. So watch it, drink it in.
That is, unless Russia do the even more unthinkable and get through to the semi-finals of this already outstanding World Cup.
There’s just over 13 million people living in Moscow, and I’m pretty sure they were all on Nikolskaya Ulitsa on Sunday night.
It was a monumental party to mark a momentous occasion.
The scenes in Moscow city centre after their win are absolutely insane 
pic.twitter.com/y03nbNTMTw
— Dream Team (@dreamteamfc) July 1, 2018
Our fearless leader
Oxford street in December
“I’ve never seen the streets like this in Russia before – but we will enjoy it while it lasts, for sure!” says Andriy as I jostle for position down what is usually Moscow’s central shopping street.
The now familiar chants of “Russia! Russia!” (pronounced “Roo-see-ya”) echo around every Metro station, while Jack White could have made a fortune in PRS fees given the number of times fans started to howl the riff to Seven Nation Army.
Every man and his dog is out – quite literally in one sense, as I stop by a group of people gathered round a buggy taking pictures. Of a baby? Nope, of one of the most adorable dogs you’re ever likely to see. Even he was smiling, such was the infectious joy of the place.
A very, very good boy
Eyes on the road, please
“We don’t really celebrate anything like this in the country, so tonight is a very special night,” says Joanna, shouting over the noise of car horns, chanting, and sadly, yes, vuvuzelas as well.
There’s people clambering up lampposts before launching into the next rendition of ROO-SEE-YA, kids poking their heads out of sunroofs as cars sat gridlocked on the nearby streets, and beers being drained by the gallon. There’s supposedly a beer shortage here, too.
Scenes
The lads
The repertoire of Russian football chants doesn’t stretch too far, and as I made my way around the corner next to Lubyanka station it was a group of three lads leading the crowds in the next verse of ROO-SEE-YA (tip: the second verse is exactly the same as the first).
I ask them if I can have a picture. They asked me through Google Translate if I had vodka. I said no. They posed for one anyway. In that moment I think I’ve already done more for Anglo-Russian relations than Boris Johnson.
Butler for PM?
Zero f**ks given
There was one man who did have vodka – in fact, it looked like he had all the vodka. I walked past as he poured, straight vertically, a full litre bottle of Russian Standard into an already brutal looking brown liquid.
I’m tempted to ask Siri if it’s possible to get a permanent hangover, because this guy was on his way to one.
Managing to somehow duck out of the hoards of fans still bundling their way down Nikolskaya Ulitsa, I think about winding the evening down.
That is, until I pass the fountain on Ulitsa Ilinka, where all hell has broken loose with people bombing and diving into what is normally a nice, serene feature.
Getting too close to the action, I’m soaked by one fan who thought it would just be better for all involved if he started to spray everyone observing. Given it’s still a muggy 24 degrees, it’s actually quite refreshing.
Somewhere close by a small cheer goes up. It’s been forgotten by most, but Croatia are playing Denmark, and for the hardcore football fans around the city, it’s another game of this glorious World Cup to sink your teeth into.
When will the party end? Possibly in five days time when Russia come up against Croatia in their quarter-final. But until then, the hosts are going to enjoy these moments while they can – and let’s be honest, who can blame them?
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