A group of Cumbrians are heading home after flying the flag for Carlisle United at the heart of the World Cup in Russia.

Blues fans Kevan Blackadder and Andrew and Robert Dent have taken in four group games in the tournament.

They saw holders Germany's shock defeat to Mexico, and Iceland's valiant draw against Argentina.

After Tuesday's victory for Senegal against Poland, also in Moscow, they rounded off their trip by heading to St Petersburg to watch Brazil against Costa Rica yesterday.

The three men also encountered some other United supporters on their way.

First, they bumped into fellow fans wearing the famous "deckchair" shirt in the Moscow fan zone, where they watched England's dramatic last-minute win against Tunisia on Monday.

Then, at the Poland-Senegal game at the Spartak Stadium, they encountered more fellow Blues.

Kevan, Andrew and Andrew's son Robert, all originally from Whitehaven, were joined on their trip by another friend, Bob Pitt, a Tottenham fan.

Upon arriving at the fan zone, they encountered David Stoddart from Beckermet - also wearing his Carlisle shirt - with his mate Richard Davy from Hull.

Kevan, a former Whitehaven News reporter, said: “We bought tickets before the draw was made and although we didn’t get any England games it’s worked well.

"We were in with the Mexican fans for the win over Germany, which was brilliant, and also saw Argentina against Iceland.

"Then, as we walked into the ground for the Poland v Senegal game wearing our Carlisle shirt, I heard, 'With a C and an A and an R and an L...' and turned round to see a bloke in a Scotland shirt. He shook me by the hand and said: 'Carlisle United, Annan branch'."

Kevan added: “There was a huge mix of nationalities in the fan zone. More Tunisia fans than England.

"But it’s been completely misrepresented at home. The Russians have been as welcoming as anywhere I’ve been and it’s a real shame there aren’t as many English fans out here as there should be.

"All I need now is for [United manager] John Sheridan to sign some more players and it will be the perfect summer."

The men, meanwhile, are all confident that England will get their second victory of the tournament against Panama in Nizhny Novgorod tomorrow.

Kevan predicts a 3-0 win and believes Marcus Rashford will score if manager Gareth Southgate picks him ahead of Raheem Sterling.

Andrew also goes for 3-0, but reckons Sterling will be on target for the Three Lions.

Bob goes for 2-0 with both goals again coming from captain Harry Kane.

Robert, though, expects a more nailbiting contest with England coming from 1-0 down to win 2-1, with Jamie Vardy coming off the bench to score a late winner.

*Do you know any other Cumbrians at the World Cup? Let us know by emailing news.carlisle@cnmedia.co.uk