World Cup 2018 diary: Iceland fans cover a Lada miles, St Petersburg puts on a show

As the World Cup’s group stage continued apace, the best supporters in the tournament again came to the fore across Russia.

Two Iceland fans continued their journey in the iconic Lada Niva from their home in the North Atlantic to the banks of the Don River.

Residents of St Petersburg took a break from football fever to light up the skies above the historic city.

And in Kazan, Colombia inherited the mantle of Australia and Iran’s followers to become the latest noisy bunch to take over the Tatarstan capital. 

Here, we run through the pick of Day 11 at the World Cup…

 

THAT’S A WHOLE LADA MILES COVERED

Iceland’s fans grabbed the spotlight with their giant Viking thunderclap in Moscow to start the tournament and two intrepid supporters captured the attention of local media and international reporters alike in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday.

Having won a competition organised by their country’s tourism authority, Kristbjorn Kjartansson and Gretar Jonsson boarded a ferry to Denmark, drove through Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and into Russia before following the team from Moscow to Volgograd and now Rostov, all in a Lada Niva, that venerable late Soviet-era interpretation of the 4×4.

The pair have promised that they will remain in Russia and on the road for as long as Iceland are involved…

COLOMBIA TAKE OVER

In Kazan we have been blessed with some truly immense displays of support for some of the countries playing in the city.

Australia and Iran have been particular highlights – the Aussies bringing their trademark wit and banter, while the Iranians brought vuvuzelas, dancing and sheer passion.

However, both looked to have been outclassed by Colombia today ahead of the South American nation’s clash with Poland at the Kazan Arena.

Having dominated the city all day, turning it into a sea of yellow, the Colombians took over the metro station at the Arena.

The place was wall-to-wall singing and dancing Colombians, creating an incredible atmosphere.

James Rodriguez and company had some backing in the stadium!

 

WE’LL TAKE THE BRIDGE, THANKS

As the temperatures continue to soar into the mid-30s in Samara, a dip in the Volga river is becoming an increasingly enticing prospect.

Omnisport has kept its head above water for now, though, taking a boat trip up and down the shoreline to get a view of the city from another perspective.

But this is a climate of extremes – in winter, the mercury drops to as low as minus 20 degrees celsius, and the river freezes over.

With the ice up to a metre and a half thick, Samara’s residents often take the opportunity to walk – or sometimes even drive – across, many of them going in search of cross-country skiing trips on the opposite bank.

Not something Omnisport will be trying any time soon…

 

SCHOOL LEAVERS GO OUT WITH A BANG

Toni Kroos wasn’t the only one providing fireworks in Russia on Saturday night. In St Petersburg, pyrotechnics illuminated the banks of the River Neva to mark the Scarlet Sails festival.

First run between 1968 and 1979 before being re-established in 2005, the event is a celebration of Russia’s school leavers, with the cream of the crop invited to a huge concert in Dvortsovaya Square overlooked by the Hermitage Museum.

But this isn’t just one for the kids, with another stage on Vasilievsky Island on the other side of the Neva for locals and tourists alike to enjoy one the highlights of St Petersburg’s White Nights, which culminates with the famous illuminated red ship setting sail under exploding skies.

 

OMNISPORT CREW BRAVE SOCHI STORM

It has been hot and humid around the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, and the heavens finally opened up overnight.

It was a clear evening as Kroos kept Germany’s World Cup dream alive against Sweden at Fisht Stadium.

But afterwards, in the early hours of Sunday morning, heavy rain and lightning lashed the Sochi region.

Ponchos were handed out to the media brave enough to step outside but they provided little comfort for Omnisport’s soaked trio.