Standing outside Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, Misha had no doubts which side was going to win today's match between Russia and England. "It's going to be a 1-0 Russia victory," he said, wrapped up against the cold in a fleecy jacket. "If it carries on snowing you guys have no chance," he added. "We Russians are used to snow. You're not."
The England squad may have prepared for tonight's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier by playing on a plastic pitch similar to Luzhniki's synthetic turf, but Steve McClaren's side are probably less prepared for the inclement Russian winter which arrived in Moscow over the weekend. As a result local fans are now optimistic about the prospect of avenging the 3-0 defeat by England at Wembley last month.
The match also provides an opportunity to demonstrate national pride at a time when political relations between Britain and Russia are frosty following the murder in London of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko.
Russia's president Vladimir Putin has accused Britain of "stupidity" and "colonial thinking". On Monday he suggested Russia was more democratic than Britain, pointing out that he had been elected, unlike Gordon Brown.
This diplomatic backstory gives tonight's encounter an added frisson. Russian supporters are planning to show off their patriotic credentials by unveiling a giant 120mx80m Russian flag before kick off. "We are hoping to enter it into the Guinness Book of Records," said Russian fan Alexander Shprygin, adding that the flag would have a surprise slogan on it.
Mark Perryman, a spokesman for an England fans' group, said the travelling supporters in Moscow are aware of the political tensions. "Russia is one of those places where you have to be a little bit sensible. I'm not going to go round town draped in an England flag," he said.
Overall, though, both sets of fans appear unconcerned by the row. Russia is experiencing a wave of Anglophilia following the release of the Russian translation of the final Harry Potter book. "Who cares about politics? Everybody has spent the past two days reading Harry Potter. This is the best reflection of our relationship," said Vasily Utkin, Russia's leading football commentator. England fans provided a role model for Russian fans, he added, with both countries sharing a passionate support base and a travelling fan culture.
Local fans have certainly taken an unprecedented interest in today's match. Some 750,000 have tried to buy tickets for the 80,000-seat stadium and a dozen giant screens have been erected in Moscow for those without tickets.
There is also a sense of optimism over Russia's manager, Guus Hiddink, who is credited with giving the squad a sense of coherence it previously lacked. "Under Hiddink there is a very good team spirit," said Yuri Butnev, a sports journalist. Russian football was recovering from the 90s, he added, when the country's network of youth sports clubs fell apart. He admitted the Russian league is struggling to attract major international players, but was now benefiting from sustained investment by Russia's oligarchs - not just Roman Abramovich, but also the aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska and the billionaire oil magnate Vagit Alekperov.
The Luzhniki Stadium, meanwhile, will be the venue for next year's Champions League final, which Uefa has insisted takes place on grass - unlike today's game. An English side could be playing then, meaning another group of British fans would descend on Moscow. Few political observers believe that relations between Britain and Russia will have improved by then. None of the fans outside the stadium seem to care. "This is sport, not politics," said Serioga, a ticket tout. "Besides," he added, "our players are better than yours."
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