Russia, who thrashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the FIFA World Cup opener on June 14 and went on to beat Egypt 3-1, but lost 3-0 to Uruguay in their final group-stage match, finishing second in Group A and advancing to the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time, are currently preparing for their round of 16 match against Group B winners Spain that will be played at Moscow's 78,000-seater Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.
"I know that the guys are highly motivated ahead of the Spain match... They said they would be fighting to death... The main goal is to win... I very much hope for a good result, I scarcely doubt [Russia's] victory. The training staff have elaborated a plan for the game, the players will come out on the pitch with dedication, everything will be fine," Anokhin told journalists.
The FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the matches being played in 11 cities across Russia. - 442
