A Russian mining group has discovered a very special diamond that looks like a small football, calling the find a good omen ahead of Team Russia’s crucial World Cup quarterfinal match against Croatia.
The 0.5-carat stone was dug from the ground in Russia’s northern Arkhangelsk Region by ALROSA group of diamond mining companies.
“Nature creates different whimsical shapes, but it’s the first time that we came across a diamond looking just like a soccer ball,” the group said in a statement.
It’s no coincidence that the “unique find” happened on the eve of Russia’s quarterfinal against Croatia in Sochi, it said. According to ALROSA, the diamond is a good omen for Team Russia ahead of the crucial match.
The governor of Arkhangelsk Region, Igor Orlov, also suggested that the football-shaped stone should be named after Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
Akinfeev saved two penalties in the shootout against Spain in the first round of the playoffs, propelling the country to its best result in FIFA World Cup history so far.
The Russian national team takes on Croatia at the Fisht Stadium in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Saturday.
