Russia, who knocked out the 2010 World Cup winners Spain from this summer's tournament in the Round of 16, will face Croatia in Sochi later today with the kick-off set for 21:00 Moscow time.

Ovechkin who became the first Russian captain to win the NHL's top prize, the Stanley Cup, brought the trophy to the fan zone at Vorobyovy Gory, in Moscow, and to the Novogorsk-Dynamo training base just outside the capital on Saturday.

"No one knew that the Russian national football team would go so far. Everyone's happy with this event. It's just a coincidence that I brought the Stanley Cup to Moscow on this exact day [when Russia face Croatia]. We'll be emotionally involved in our guys' game. Of course, I'd like to come to Sochi, but I'll watch the match on TV," Ovechkin told journalists.