Cheap beer and artificial beach: English fans warmly welcome Samara before the World Cup quarter-finals

Samara's tourism chief told the English fans that they were expecting a warm welcome before the quarter-finals of Saturday's World Cup and promised: "You will love this here."

Thousands of English fans arrive in the ninth The chief of tourism, Mikhail Maltsev, said that they would be welcomed with open arms and that the city did not provide for additional security measures

"I do not think not that we have to worry about that, "he says. "We have created very safe and comfortable conditions in Samara.Our city is beautiful, our people are friendly and hospitable and I am sure that the fans of England will love it here

"So, in these comfortable and pleasing conditions, they will have no reason to be aggressive or judge on anything.They will love the holidays and the current festival that we have created here "

M. Maltsev said the absence of problems in previous Samara World Cup matches was proof that English fans did not need to worry.

"There will be no extra security measures because we can see that the ones we already have are working perfectly," he said.

Samara witnessed some of the most colorful scenes of the tournament with Brazilian fans organizing a carnival before the match against Mexico.

Beer at unbeatable prices, a beach artificial long one kilometer and Stalin's bunker awaits English fans. former Soviet secret brewery

The Zhiguli brewery, located on the banks of the Volga River, has been selling Zhigulevskoye lager for generations. He is now selling for 45 pence a pint.

England fans have experienced a trouble-free World Cup with the team matches in Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaliningrad and Moscow without any serious incident.

Fans who made the long and arduous trip to Samara today welcomed the hospitality and planning of the tournament.

The director of Neal Weekes, a 54-year-old from Greenwich, said: "The organization and safety of this World Cup have been unmatched.

"We have been watching England at home and out for years, and I think a lot of fans have been put off by fan ID cards. they should not worry, you can do it online and pick it up here. "

Fil Sollof, 53, said:" The Russian people have been very hospitable and hospitable. have been to all England matches and although safety is present, this is not the top.

"It was an excellent World Cup. We will take some sights or maybe take a trip on the river before the game. Tell people at home how beautiful it is.

"We are ready to go home on Sunday, which we will do, if we qualify, we will be back for the match in Moscow."

However, all supporters wishing to take the plane for Samara clashed to get to the match.

While some flights were still available from £ 600, desperate supporters to travel 2,500 miles could be thwarted by a lack of tickets and difficulty getting a visa on time.

to enjoy the long kilometer-long beach built right next to the brewery, by the river.

Tons of imported sand were used to create the landmark, which turns out to be the perfect place to relax as the city sinks into a heat wave of 30 ° C and more. Stalin's bunker, built during the Second World War at 60 meters below ground, where temperatures are comfortable throughout the year, is a place where fans can escape the heat. The history of Samara dates back to 1586 – the year of its founding. Before the Russian Revolution, its position on the Volga made it an important commercial center

In 1941, while Moscow was besieged by Nazi forces, Samara became the "relief" capital of the Soviet Union.

Many government agencies, diplomatic missions and even football players have been displaced in Samara.