IN RUSSIA WITH LOVE
Former Tottenham striker Pavlyuchenko claims it will be the ‘best World Cup ever’ and that fans will love it so much they won’t want to leave
ROMAN PAVLYUCHENKO still has a special connection with England – and is convinced they will be part of the best World Cup in history next summer.
The former Tottenham striker is now one of Russia’s World Cup ambassadors and keen to dismiss fears about hooliganism and security.
Russian organisers have spent more than £7billion on 12 venues and the centrepiece is Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, which cost £340m to rebuild, has a capacity of 80,000 and will stage the final.
But after Gareth Southgate’s England booked their ticket to Russia, there will inevitably be fears about crowd violence after the trouble during Euro 2016.
Russian thugs clashed with England fans in Marseille, leading to an investigation and UEFA threatened to expel both countries if there was any repeat.
But Pavlyuchenko, 35, insists it will be a World Cup to remember and having spent four years in England, he is convinced our fans will love it.
Pavlyuchenko, talking to Mirror Sport while sat in the dug-out (above) at the Luzhniki Stadium, said: “I’m absolutely sure that fans will like it and I’m sure it will be the best World Cup in the history of the World Cup. All the fans will come here and enjoy it, I’m sure.
“There is a misconception that going to Russia will see lots of people getting hurt, punched and attacked. Anyone who comes here can see that it’s not like that. I’m sure everything will be fine in that respect.
“There are security worries wherever you go in the world, but I am sure the organisation here will be excellent and will make it very safe for the fans.
“I’ve seen all the stadiums and there’s a venue better than the Luzhniki. The Spartak stadium is even better. If all the stadiums are this good there is no way that organisationally this cannot be anything but the best World Cup we have ever seen.
“People who come here for the World Cup will stay here because they will never want to leave. It will be a World Cup to remember.
“We want to open up our country, it’s wonderful and I don’t understand why so many bad things are said about it.”
Pavlyuchenko had mixed fortunes at White Hart Lane, but says his biggest regret was deciding to leave.
“My best footballing days were spent in England. I absolutely loved it,” he added. “It’s the bes championship in the world When people ask me abou England, I always say if you hav any contract offer, then just go and play there because it’s th best football there.
“My only regret is to leav England by choice. I should no have left England for Russia. could have stayed at Tottenham I did not need to leave and that’ my biggest regret.”
He is far more realistic abou Russia’s chances at the World Cup. “It will be hard because th world’s best teams will be there
“But we need to give a good show of ourselves and I think w will definitely get out of th group,” he said.
“We have a big advantage o playing at home, in our own stadiums, in front of our own fans and that will help us a lot so we should feel confident.”