Russia reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991 after failing to do so in their previous three attempts.

Stanislav Cherchesov's side went on to beat 2010 champions Spain on penalties in the round of 16 but bowed out after losing to Croatia, also in a penalty shootout

"A lot of teams impressed me, but the Russian team impressed me the most. Many people simply didn't believe that the team would play so well and go so far. The spectators were really excited. Russia's success was made possible not only by the team's effort but also thanks to the fans' support. That's why I was impressed by Russia the most," Kuranyi told journalists.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the final set to be played at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.