Euros

[toptoon]

I was a student in Leningrad during the 1970 World Cup.
In those days they played 3-4 games each day, all kicking off at the same time.
Russian TV would show one game live, then the other games straight afterwards in full.
There was no internet and no mobile phones of course, so no way of finding out the scores without watching the games - at least not in the good old USSR. There were no "expert" panels in between games and no flashing up of scores along the bottom of the screen.

So we would sit watching football for six hours at a stretch until the early hours.
Loved every minute of it.
Nowadays - not so much.

That’s interesting - did you actually study there or just happened to be there during the WC?

[KemptownMag]

That’s interesting - did you actually study there or just happened to be there during the WC?

The 1970 World Cup was in Mexico.
I did a degree in German and Russian, so was at the University of Leningrad as part of my course.

We were there in the summer and it was a scorcher.
Our accommodation was in one of those trade union holiday hotels on the beach.
Came back to UK with a real suntan.
People would ask where I got the tan.
Tell them "Russia" and they would wet themselves - "No, really, where did you go?"

At that time the Soviet Government was trying to crack down on alcoholism, so they shut all but a couple of bars in the city. Massive queues to get in, but as soon as the Russians in the queue heard us speaking English they would insist we be put to the front. And of course they, as our best mates, would accompany us! We hardly ever had to pay for a drink during our time there mind.

Stupid, self-defeating policy. Many just made their own vodka - samogon - which was bloody lethal.
Others would wait outside an off licence for someone else to come along. Then they would put their money together for a bottle or two and just get totally pissed and pass out on the street.
If the local plod tried to move them on, a whole crowd would appear and chase the rozzers away. (Then ask if there was anything left in the bottle!).

Had a great time there.

[toptoon]

I imagine separating a Russian from his vodka would be akin to separating a Scotsman from his whisky.

[KemptownMag]

I worked for a Russian company for 15 years.
Those guys are serious drinkers.
We used to have a stand at trade shows and the hospitality room there saw some awesome booze ups.
Starting at 8am on the vodka requires an iron constitution.

A few times I was invited to people's flats for "breakfast"
The table would be absolutely covered in all kinds of meat, fish, you name it.
And a bottle of brandy of course, just to warm up for the day!

[ex_pat_magpie]

I imagine separating a Russian from his vodka would be akin to separating a Scotsman from his whisky.

I couldn't think of a better comparison.

[Cannylad]

My brother worked in St. Petersburgh for a few years as a superintendent for a company who was building a ship there. They used to have daily meetings in the main office at 7am every morning and everyone was knocking back the vodka even that early. He would use the local buses to get to and from his hotel and was amazed at how many drunks there were, they would finish off the bottle but were always very careful to not damage the bottle and place them alongside the walls. When my brother asked why they do this he was told they leave the bottles for the homeless kids to pick up and get money for them.

[toptoon]

I worked for a Russian company for 15 years.
Those guys are serious drinkers.
We used to have a stand at trade shows and the hospitality room there saw some awesome booze ups.
Starting at 8am on the vodka requires an iron constitution.

A few times I was invited to people's flats for "breakfast"
The table would be absolutely covered in all kinds of meat, fish, you name it.
And a bottle of brandy of course, just to warm up for the day!

I was once invited for breakfast to a Danish neighbor of my mother’s. It was Gammel Dansk and oysters - there might have been other food but I can’t remember!

[liikape]

Finland have never been in euros or world cup before so I will be watching…

[KemptownMag]

My brother worked in St. Petersburgh for a few years as a superintendent for a company who was building a ship there. They used to have daily meetings in the main office at 7am every morning and everyone was knocking back the vodka even that early. He would use the local buses to get to and from his hotel and was amazed at how many drunks there were, they would finish off the bottle but were always very careful to not damage the bottle and place them alongside the walls. When my brother asked why they do this he was told they leave the bottles for the homeless kids to pick up and get money for them.

I can well believe it.
Every year when I worked for the Russian company all of us involved in the company's shipping business used to meet up for a few days in Odessa port, supposedly to discuss the latest developments in transport etc.
We had a really flash office and the local manager was a football fanatic.
The tradition was that each visitor would bring the scarf of his local team and these were hung all round the offices.

Every day we had breakfast and lunch in the office.
Russian hospitality is famous - tables are covered buffer-style in every kind of food and it just goes on forever.
So breakfast was like you said - 7am vodka, brandy and whisky was swallowed like there was no tomorrow.

I believe that Russia has one of the lowest life expectancies for men in the developed world. Wonder why?

[Zippity]

Finland have never been in euros or world cup before so I will be watching…

Is that right? Well that's fantastic for you, man...I hope they do you proud.