The host nation will take on Croatia in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Saturday after edging out 2010 World Cup winners Spain on penalties on Sunday to reach the last eight for the first time since the end of the Soviet era.

"I am expecting a winning match for us. Even though Croatia have a strong squad, our team has given us hope throughout the World Cup, which is why we believe that we'll be able to reach the semi-finals. I think that Russia could win 2-1. And I hope that Artem Dzyuba and Denis Cheryshev would score," Nigmatullin said.

Zenit St. Petersburg striker Dzyuba and Villarreal winger Cheryshev have so far scored three goals apiece at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.