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 is keen to dismiss any fears about hooliganism and security.
Russian organisers have spent in excess of £7billion on 12 venues and the centre piece 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 players booked their ticket to Russia, there will inevitably be fears about hooliganism after the crowd trouble during Euro 2016 last year.
Russian hooligans clashed with England fans in Marseille, it led to a full scale investigation and UEFA threatened to expel both countries if there was a repeat of the violence.
However, Pavlyuchenko, 35, insists it will be a World Cup to remember and, having spent four years in England, he is convinced the fans will love it.
Pavlyuchenko, who was talking to Mirror Sport while sat in the dug-out in the Luzhniki Stadium, said: “I’m absolutely sure that fans will like it and I’m sure that 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 absolutely 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 that 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 then there is no way that organisationally this cannot be anything but the best World Cup we have ever seen.
“I think 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 a wonderful country and I don’t understand why so many bad things are said about it.”
Pavlyuchenko had mixed fortunes at Tottenham but says his biggest regret from his time at White Hart Lane was deciding to leave.
“My best footballing days were spent in England. I absolutely loved it,” he said. “It’s the best championship in the world. When people ask me about England, I always say if you have any contract offer, any opportunity, then just go and play there because it’s the best football there.
“I have no regrets about my time in England, my only regret is to leave England by choice. I should not have left England for Russia. I could have stayed at Tottenham, I did not need to leave and that’s my biggest regret.”
Pavlyuchenko is far more realistic about Russia’s chances at the World Cup next summer. “It will be hard for Russia because the world’s best teams will be there. But we need to give a good show of ourselves and I think we will definitely get out of the Group,” he said.
“We have a big advantage of 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.”