World Cup diary, day 22: A journey to Russia’s “sporting capital” invaded by the Samba Boys

Tatarstan, like many areas of the world’s largest country, wanted to be autonomous, with the Muslim culture rife in the region at odds with the Russian Orthodox church.

However, to keep the Tatars from revolting, the Russian authorities simply threw money at Kazan – the capital of Tatarstan, improving the city’s infrastructure, and it worked – Kazan is a beautful, well-equipped and, most importantly for the authorities, peaceful city.

Well, that was until the Brazilians came to town. As I have said many, many times in this column, South Americans make football tournaments better, and the Brazilians are no exception.

READ MORE: The 32: Colombian petition labelled a ‘nonsense’ by Mick McCarthy

READ MORE: The 32: ‘Humble’ England a credit to Gareth Southgate

READ MORE: “They aren’t very good at moving the ball ” – Sweden scout explains how to beat England

They take over my night train from Moscow, and make sleeping very difficult, not because they are singing, but their debates get so heated!

Upon arrival, it is immediately clear that this is one of Russia’s wealthier cities. The multitude of pristine top-to-bottom, glass-clad buildings reflect the clear blue sky as we whizz past in the taxi to the stadium for the press conferences, past a replica of the Concorde, randomly lying the outskirts of the city.

Our taxi driver informs us that this is Russia’s “sporting capital, with all the best teams.” Basketball, volleyball, hockey, and even, much to our bewilderment, football, claiming Rubin Kazan to be Russia’s “best team”.

His argument does fall a little flat when trying to back his claim, insisting that because they beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp ten years ago, they still are the biggest team in Russia.

Next to the amazing Kazan Arena, with its plasma screen exterior, again, covering the whole facade, sits the impressive Swimming Arena, built for the 2015 Aquatics Championships, which doesn’t look out of place in this incredible city.

Both coaches – Brazil’s Tite and Belgium’s Roberto Martinez – proclaimed their usual, uninteresting spiel about wanting to win the match, with Tite especially defensive of Neymar’s antics.

The excitement was certainly palpable in the English press pack. It is the best attack v the best defence, but not the way round that you’d think, with Brazil, the forefathers of Jogo Bonito, only conceding five shots on target so far this World Cup.

Romelu Lukaku was the Belgium player put up to speak to reporters, and you cannot help but be impressed by the intelligence of the man. He was asked questions in Dutch, French, Portuguese, English and German, and did not need a translator once, answering back in whatever language he was questioned in.

THE WORLD CUP’S BEST FAN COSTUMES: CLICK BELOW FOR SLIDESHOW

Tite and Martinez both eluded to what many of us were thinking – this match is too tough to call. Belgium have the firepower to break any team, as do Brazil, with both defences capable of frustration, too.

We all headed into the lovely city centre for dinner, with options more diverse than many Russain cities. Cuban to Syrian, there is a cuisine for everyone in Kazan.

Then, as we all were inundated with “Football’s Coming Home” memes on our phones, the conversation turned to Samara, and England’s hopes.

We have a hellish journey in car to make it in time for England, but what will we witness? It is no secret Sweden are England’s bogey team, but surely they won’t have enough to tame the Three Lions? Right?