Russian football fans celebrate in Soho...with beer and beetroot soup

Russia fans screamed in jubilation as they came together in London to see their team seal a second World Cup victory.

Dozens gathered in the darkened basement of Soho restaurant and bar Zima to watch on a big screen as the host nation secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Egypt. The match was goal-less in the first half, before Russia eased fans’ tensions with three after the break. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah then converted a penalty.

In between pints of Pilsner Urquell and bowls of beetroot soup, the fans watched the game and clapped loudly as goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev made several crucial saves. When Russia scored after the break, they leapt up from their seats and cheered “Rossiya! Rossiya! Rossiya!”.

Two Egyptian fans also arrived to watch the second half of the Group A fixture and received a warm welcome from the rival supporters.

Inna Loseva, Harry Stanford and Fatima Hane, who work for Russian bank Renaissance Capital, went to watch the match as part of an office night out. Ms Loseva, waving a Russian flag, said: “There aren’t that many Russian restaurants in London but this one is great. The atmosphere is really good here and this is a good game. Everyone wants Russia to win.”

Pharmaceutical worker Stan Shirokiy, 22, went to the restaurant with some of his Russian, Uzbekistani and German friends to share part of his Russian culture with them.

Mr Shirokiy, who moved to the UK when he was 11 and has lived in London for five years, said: “The World Cup has brought people together. How Russians are portrayed in the media isn’t a reality...we’re extremely welcoming.”