In Russia, the country's Cup is especially popular among football fans, the matches of which are more unpredictable than in the main championship. Every year, the Russian Cups allow teams from lower divisions to try their hand against real giants and compete with them for a prestigious trophy.
When did the Cup of Russia begin this season
The Cup of the country this season began on July 15 from the 1/256 final stage. This tournament attracts fans with the uncompromising struggle of rivals on the field and the incredible intensity of emotions. Very often, the Cup gives fans the opportunity to enjoy unpredictable results, as teams from different divisions approach these meetings with a different mood. The calendar of the current draw of the Cup 2015-2016 has been approved by the RFU, since this tournament is held under the auspices of this organization. Amateur teams also took part in the fight for the Cup, for which it was enough to pass the certification of a professional football league. You can find out who won the Russian Football Cup in April 2016, after the final, the exact date, time and place of which has not yet been established.
Amateur teams have to start their way in the Cup of Russia with the 1/512 finals. Next, the clubs that have passed this stage will meet with teams from the second division in the next round. The strongest representatives of the FNL get into the Cup at the 1/32 final stage, and the teams representing the Premier League have the opportunity to enter the fight already at the 1/16 final stage.
Each match of the Russian Football Cup must necessarily end with the victory of one of the rivals. A draw is not allowed, and if there is no winner, two additional halves of 15 minutes each are assigned based on the results of regular time. If the teams have not revealed the strongest, everything is decided in the penalty shoot-out.
What gives a victory in the Cup of Russia
Traditionally, the Russian Football Cups allow the main prize-winner to receive not only the trophy itself, but also the opportunity to participate in the Europa League next season, and immediately at the group stage of the Euro Cup. In addition , the Cup winner following the results of the Russian Championship will have to meet with the new winner of the Premier League gold medals in the match for the Super Bowl of the country. If you win in this match, the team can claim a solid cash prize. The Cup itself is a trophy that passes from hand to hand. Its original is presented annually to a new winner, and the former triumph takes away an exact copy. However, it is possible to get the original silver trophy forever, but it is not so easy to do. In order to take possession of a genuine cup, you need to win it three times in a row or just 5 times. To date, only two clubs fighting in the Premier League can boast of having the original Cup of Russia in their museum. These are CSKA and Lokomotiv, who won 7 and 6 trophies respectively. Every year, the results of the Russian Cup in football are unpredictable and cause great interest in the tournament.
What does the trophy look like
The Russian Cup, which is awarded to the teams now, was made in 2010. This is a 17-pound silver bowl, on the sides of which there are elongated handles. In the manufacture of the trophy, crystal was also used, from which the lid and base of the cup were made. On the trophy is the emblem of the RFU and the coat of arms of Russia. During the tournament finals, the Cup is displayed near the football field, and at the end of the match, when the winner is already known, it is solemnly awarded to the captain of the winning club. Now the Russian teams have a tradition rooted the whole team to drink champagne from the trophy.
Why Cup matches are so unpredictable
To date, the Russian Football Cups are considered the most unpredictable tournament in the country. The thing is that the Premier League leaders often do not want to put in the main team for this tournament, thereby trying to save their strength in the matches of the domestic championship and Eurocups. As a result, it turns out that the clubs from the lower divisions go out to fights with more motivation, with their best roster. So, teams that are favorites on paper in the Cup often lose even in the initial stages of the tournament. In the entire history of the Cup, just three teams managed to get the Premier League championship and victory in the second most important tournament in Russia - Spartak, CSKA and Zenit.
Who claims the trophy this season
This season, several teams from the country's top division are claiming victory in the Cup of Russia. Traditionally, Zenit, CSKA, Spartak and Rubin, as well as the current trophy holder Lokomotiv, were on this list. The only thing that can prevent these strongest clubs from showing their best in the Cup is their busy game schedule, which takes a lot of energy. All this makes it possible for other teams to make the Russian Cups a successful tournament for themselves and easily reach the final of the competition. The incentive to get an opportunity to get into the Eurocups, as well as to earn a good fee, probably gives an additional charge, and teams from which they do not expect this can prove themselves.