DPA
Moscow
Russia's team gathered before thousands of fans at a World~Cup fest in Moscow on Sunday to thank them for their support sfter exiting in the quarter-finals.
"We are happy to welcome you," head coach Stanislav Cherchesov told the droves of fans, many wearing team jerseys and with Russian flags draped across their shoulders.
"We wanted to go further, but we were unable. We will do better in four years in Qatar!" said Cherchesov in a speech, adding: "But without you that will be difficult. So, everyone go there!"
The players unfurled a banner in the white, blue and red of the Russian flag with the slogan,"We play for you!"
Several players individually said"thank you" to the crowd, gathered at the tree-lined campus of the prestigious Moscow State University.
"Some applause for our heroes," an emcee asked the crowd."It has been an unforgettable month. We will remember this month forever."
Russia were eliminated after a penalty shoot-out loss to Croatia in the quarter-final.
It was the first time Russia had reached the World Cup last eight in the country's post-Soviet history and surpassed all pre-tournament expectations.
A woman with a Russian flag painted on her face was happy that the team came out to thank the fans.
"They did a good job nevertheless," she said, using a catchphrase that has sprung up to celebrate the team surpassing expectations.
The team also thanked the fans on Twitter, saying:"You are just the best. With you, we are one country and one team!"
Earlier in the day, the team said it was important to thank the fans for their support.
Without the support of the fans,"it would have been impossible to achieve such results," the team said in a statement carried by Rossiiskaya Gazeta, the country's official newspaper of record.
"Friends! Come, we're waiting for you," the team said on Twitter, extending an open invitation to the fest.
"Together we're a team."
Russians entered the biggest event in sport as its lowest-ranked nation but ended up coming up just short of reaching their first World Cup semi-final in 52 years.
They lost to Croatia 4-3 on penalties after extra-time ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Saturday.
Moscow
Russia's team gathered before thousands of fans at a World~Cup fest in Moscow on Sunday to thank them for their support sfter exiting in the quarter-finals.
"We are happy to welcome you," head coach Stanislav Cherchesov told the droves of fans, many wearing team jerseys and with Russian flags draped across their shoulders.
"We wanted to go further, but we were unable. We will do better in four years in Qatar!" said Cherchesov in a speech, adding: "But without you that will be difficult. So, everyone go there!"
The players unfurled a banner in the white, blue and red of the Russian flag with the slogan,"We play for you!"
Several players individually said"thank you" to the crowd, gathered at the tree-lined campus of the prestigious Moscow State University.
"Some applause for our heroes," an emcee asked the crowd."It has been an unforgettable month. We will remember this month forever."
Russia were eliminated after a penalty shoot-out loss to Croatia in the quarter-final.
It was the first time Russia had reached the World Cup last eight in the country's post-Soviet history and surpassed all pre-tournament expectations.
A woman with a Russian flag painted on her face was happy that the team came out to thank the fans.
"They did a good job nevertheless," she said, using a catchphrase that has sprung up to celebrate the team surpassing expectations.
The team also thanked the fans on Twitter, saying:"You are just the best. With you, we are one country and one team!"
Earlier in the day, the team said it was important to thank the fans for their support.
Without the support of the fans,"it would have been impossible to achieve such results," the team said in a statement carried by Rossiiskaya Gazeta, the country's official newspaper of record.
"Friends! Come, we're waiting for you," the team said on Twitter, extending an open invitation to the fest.
"Together we're a team."
Russians entered the biggest event in sport as its lowest-ranked nation but ended up coming up just short of reaching their first World Cup semi-final in 52 years.
They lost to Croatia 4-3 on penalties after extra-time ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Saturday.