FANS GOING CRAZY
ENGLAND fans who braved travelling to the World Cup told last night how they have fallen in love with Russia. Locals winning hearts of our travelling fans
Supporters said friends and family tried to talk them out of making the trip – with Foreign Office officials even warning of the dangers.
There were also pre-tournament fears over hooliganism and terrorism plus the political fall-out following the poisoning of spy Sergei Skripal in the UK.
But fan George Hesselgren, 25, said he could not believe how far Russia had surpassed his expectations.
Investment banker George, who is travelling with his sports marketing pal Elliott Church, 24, said: “We thought the risks had been exaggerated but really they were blown out of all proportion.
“The people here have been fantastic. Everyone has been so helpful.
“When we needed a taxi a young woman helped us out.
“She went totally out of her way to make sure we got to where we wanted to be. That would not happen in England.”
Elliott added: “Whatever has happened on a political level and on a personal one, the people here have really embraced this. It has been a wonderful experience.”
Oil and gas company director
Stephen Ogden, 50, who has allowed his 17-year-old son Theo to skip school to attend the tournament, said the Russian people had won their hearts.
“They are such hospitable people,” he said. “They may seem quite serious and some can appear intimidating. “But when you make the effort to talk to them they really take you to their hearts. They are fun-loving with a wonderful very dark and dry sense of humour which is similar to ours.
“We have friends who are not here because they were in Marseille and frankly they were scared to come. They tried to tell us not to do it.
“But it is one of the friendliest World Cups I have ever known. We’ve not seen even a hint of trouble. It really is a fantastic country.”
Theo, who is blogging his trip, added: “As for Russian girls – they take your breath away. They are so incredibly beautiful and when you smile at them they smile at you and want to talk. That doesn’t happen in England.
“What is not to love about this place?”
Back home, one person who did not appear to be having fun was former Three Lions manager Sam Allardyce.
He was snapped watching the game alone while eating a burger at the Lord Raglan pub in Holborn, central London.