Freestyle football great makes history with ninth world title
The 2016 World Cup in Russia will be history made at the final frontier – the host country with the most World Cup titles in history.
We speak to a man who was born in the Russian city where the final will be hosted – and has an amazing story to tell about the Russian World Cup.
Alexey Gotsman, who hails from the town of Perm, on the Arctic Russia’s Lake Baikal, spoke to World Football about his own story in a special guest feature.
He was born on the 28th of June 1988 in a hospital in Perm. On the first day of his life he’d been born in a Russian hospital.
Alexey Gotsman, who hails from Perm on the Arctic Russia’s Lake Baikal, was born on the 28th of June 1988
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Russian World Cup and, as it happens, Russia are in the semi finals of the football tournament.
Russia are set to face Uruguay in Tuesday’s semi final in Kazan.
Alexey Gotsman, who in 2006 became the first ever World Cup finalist to feature for his club side Shakhtar Blok, the Russian capital city of Saint Petersburg.
Alexey Gotsman is a World Cup veteran and has won nine trophies. This is history made at the final frontier – the host country with the most World Cup titles in history.
What was it like winning the World Cup after Russia had never gone to a World Cup?
I had a pretty good time out on the pitch. When I had no problems with my career I was playing very many matches and I was very happy to play and I’m thankful for that.
How you felt in that final?
At the final we were in a group with the same characteristics as we had in the group stage. But we were better from the beginning. I think we had two good wins and a draw and this was always the goal. We had to get the second and the third goal. I was there, I was in a good mood but I had to be focused because the last game was very important. I knew the second and third goals would decide who goes through.
How is your