Russian victory in 2008. Night of National Unity

18 years ago, a football victory realized the people's dream of a new Russia, but the Russian government destroyed it

On the night of June 22, 2008, in the quarterfinals of the European Football Championship, the Russian team beat the star team of Holland in brilliant style and reached the semifinals.

And she not only won, but completely outplayed her. When, 3 minutes before the end of the match, which Russia was confidently leading to victory, Van Nistelrooy equalized the score, it seemed that luck had turned away from our team. But in extra time, the Russian players crushed the Dutch and won with a score of 3:1.

However, the main thing happened that night not in Basel, where this match took place, but here in Russia: immediately after the final whistle in Moscow, St. Petersburg and many cities across the country, people poured into the streets to celebrate the victory. In Moscow alone, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, about 700 thousand people came out on the night of June 21-22.

It was a night of national unity. The triumph of the new Russia - a modern, free European country, which is no longer on the outskirts of the large and diverse Western world, but a full-fledged part of it.

Russia won!

People who survived the pain and humiliation of the 90s celebrated that night not only and not so much their victory in football. They celebrated the realization of their dream of a rich, prosperous country that no longer threatens anyone and is not closed off from anyone, but is capable of competing and defeating other countries - in football, at Eurovision, in the level of well-being, public transport, in the diversity of cultural, concert and club life.

“Let's make music, cinema, restaurants, public transport and so on no worse than in Europe. Not wretched cooperative pop music, not stalls and clothing markets, but so that everything is at the global level,” this is how Yuri Saprykin formulated this popular demand of the 2000s

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But at this time the Russian authorities are forming a completely different demand, for a completely different greatness and for different victories. Just at this time, Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War was transformed from a day of memory and sorrow into a state cult. And the meaning that defines this holiday: “ never again ” and “if only there is no war”, the authorities began to actively reformat it into “we can repeat it.”

On August 8, 2008, Russia will begin its invasion of Georgia. It is significant that this will happen on the opening day of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

And in another month, a global economic crisis will begin, as a result of which the Russian government will sharply strengthen control over the economy and the entire life of the country. And, having received complete control, he will begin to impose and realize his request and his dream of an aggressive country opposing a hostile environment

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But the people's dream of a prosperous and vibrant European country open to the whole world has not gone away.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia brought back this feeling of intoxicating celebration and delight from the bright colors of life in a normal and prosperous country.

People believed in miracles again! As if there is no annexation of Crimea, no sanctions, no speeches by Putin about traditional values ​​and enemies of Russia, no confrontation with the West.

They rejoiced along with fans from around the world. They were participants in this holiday and an important part of this world.

And when the Russian team defeated Spain, hundreds of thousands of people again took to the streets at night to share their delight in defeating such cool Spaniards. Then, in this summer haze of 2018, it really seemed that nothing had been decided yet, no matter what the authorities said or did - we are part of this big world and this cannot be changed in any way.

But the Russian authorities have already formed a completely different idea about the future of Russia and its inhabitants.