Russia president Vladimir Putin called Stanislav Cherchesov to congratulate the national team despite their World Cup elimination.
Croatia ended Russia's surprise run to the quarter-finals on home soil with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory sealed by Ivan Rakitic in Sochi .
Denis Cheryshev put the hosts ahead with a stunning 20-yard strike, but they required a 115th-minute header from Mario Fernandes to take the game to spot-kicks after goals from Andrej Kramaric and Domagoj Vida.
Although Russia failed to book a semi-final encounter with England, Cherchesov claimed Putin was impressed by their display.
"Our prime minister [Dmitry Medvedev] was in our changing room.