“You [Russia] have a strong team, they can reach both quarter-finals and semi-finals. Russia have an excellent goalkeeper, Akinfeev, he continues the traditions of Lev Yashin. Of course, Yashin is Yashin, but Igor [Akinfeev] is one of the best goalkeepers of our time,” Lagorio told journalists.

Yashin won the 1956 Olympic Games and Euro 1960 with the Soviet Union football team, as well as being a runner-up at Euro 1964. The player also won the national title five times with Dynamo Moscow.