Intro:

Russia fans depart for Poland on Thursday morning, ahead of their Group A opener against the Czech Republic at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw.

Script:

Russian fans are on the move to Poland for Euro2012.

On Thursday, a free train organised by the Russian Railways and the All-Russian Union of Fans departed from Moscow's Belorusskaya station carrying hundreds of fans to Wroclaw, Poland.

The Russian team is not considered as one of the favourites for the tournament, yet its group is relatively weak with neither of the four teams considered to be top contenders to win it, and many fans are hoping that Russia are likely to progress from the group stage at least.

One of the fans boarding the train, told SNTV that:

"People say that if there's a rain when you are departing, that's a good sign. I think that since the weather is so murky, that's really a good sign for us, I think we will definitely win. We will progress from the group, that's for sure. We will progress, I think we will play in the semi-final, that's for sure."

SOUNDBITE (Russian) - (Unnamed) member of the All-Russian Union of Fans:

"(rough translation)... Russian and Polish relations have not been spotless historically and there is a threat of some tension between fans, however Euro2012 is a festival and I don't think anything really bad is going to happen."

Russia are playing the Czech Republic on their first game in the city of Wroclaw on June the 8th, which will follow the tournament opening in Warsaw where hosts Poland will face Greece.