This article, Russia loses to Croatia, and Twitter users Putin their best jokes, originally appeared on CNET.com.
Host country Russia was knocked out of the World Cup on Saturday after a dramatic match that went to penalty kicks, and Croatia fans weren't the only ones who were exuberant.
For some Twitter users, Russia's loss was all about Russian president Vladimir Putin. Wrote one, "Putin is looking into Croatia's next elections and how he can help."
#RUSCRO When you realise you wasted all that bribe money pic.twitter.com/HL7R7lKk09
— Carsontuwei (@carsontuwei) July 7, 2018
Population 4.1 million.
Injured keeper.
Hostile crowd.
Fear of revenge murder from Putin
Fuck it. We are Croatia. ✊✊✊✊
— Chip Reiderson (@ChipReiderson) July 7, 2018
To the “don’t mix football with politics” crowd: the second Russian equaliser against Croatia was scored by a Brazilian who was only cleared to play for the national team when Putin personally intervened #CRORUS
As far as the game itself, watchers marveled at Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subašić, who suffered an apparent hamstring injury yet kept playing.
More memes, more cheers, more tears will come next week, when France plays Belgium on Tuesday, and England takes on Croatia on Wednesday. The winners of those games advance to the final, set for Sunday, July 15.