MOSCOW, November 6, Svetlana Bonopartova. CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, during the lecture “The Goalkeeper Who Gave Hope” during the marathon of the “Knowledge” society, said that he would not exchange Russian birches for Spanish pine trees.
Akinfeev is 37 years old, he has been playing for the Moscow club throughout his career.
“»At the World Cup in Brazil, after a goal from South Korea, my whole football life flew by very quickly, lying ten seconds in the goal. I understood that it was about to begin. But you have to get up from your knees and prove the opposite. And in 2018 it was proven that there is only one step from love to hate. Every person in our country should be a patriot. We united with the fans then, the team united. Yes, not everything worked out, but love was at its limit. Tears welled up in my eyes. It was the best a sports festival that we could see. I love everything Russian most of all. Everything that happens here is the best for me,» Akinfeev said.
“»I love all our sports very much. Unfortunately, now the situation is such that people cannot compete in international tournaments. But I root for all our athletes. I will not single out anyone in particular. I root for Russia. This is love from childhood. I have already said that I love everything connected with my homeland — Russia. Figuratively speaking, even the vacations that we have, I stay at home 80 percent. I had no dream of going abroad “I am a Russian at heart, a person who would not trade Russian birch trees for Spanish pine trees,” added the CSKA goalkeeper.
As part of the army team, Akinfeev became a six-time Russian champion, won seven national Cups and Super Cups, and also won the UEFA Cup. He played more than a hundred matches for the Russian national team, won bronze at Euro 2008 and reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup.