Russia play Croatia on Saturday.
World Cup hosts Russia say pressure will be replaced by pleasure and national pride as they bid to sweep past Croatia and into the last four on Saturday.
The team, who came into the tournament as the lowest-ranked team, have defied their fans' expectations by reaching the quarter-finals.
They have quickly been embraced as national heroes, with the mayor of Moscow responding by making additional public viewing space available in the city before the match in Sochi's Fisht Stadium.
"Now there is not so much pressure," midfielder Aleksandr Samedov told reporters. "Compared to before the tournament and the pressure we felt back then - it was much harder.
"Now we are in quarter-finals and we just want to bring pleasure to the supporters and to get further and we do not feel the pressure as we did before the tournament."
Accolades have included a bison being named after Russia's top striker Artem Dzyuba and a new-born eagle after goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who saved two penalties against 2010 World Cup winners Spain in the previous round.
Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov knows that most of the 48,000-strong crowd will be supporting the home side but the moustachioed former goalkeeper has shown little interest in participating in the national outpouring of emotion.
"Emotions are simple. You show them when you direct the team. Now I am thinking only about the next game. These are not very sophisticated emotions," he said.
Cherchesov has several issues to resolve, with his midfield the biggest worry.
Alan Dzagoev has recovered from a hamstring injury but is still unable to take a full part in training while Samedov sat on the sidelines on Tuesday with an unspecified fitness problem.
Fellow midfielder Yuri Zhirkov has been ruled out injured and is unlikely to feature again, unless the hosts make it to the final in Moscow on July 15, according to Cherchesov.
The midfield is seen as a key battleground on Saturday, with Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric regarded as one of the best exponents in the world.
Stopping Modric's deliveries to a world-class attack that includes Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, Marko Pjaca, Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric will be crucial for the Russians.
They will have to attack Modric earlier than they managed to do against Spain's playmakers and will probably play a far more expansive game than last Sunday.
Croatia, on the other hand, will look to shake a 20-year old shadow.
Twenty years ago, Croatia made its World Cup debut with a result that happened only once previously in the tournament's history and has never been topped.
Finishing in third place the first time it participated in soccer's biggest showcase set a lofty standard.
The Croatians' memorable run to the semifinals in 1998 remains a moment of pride for the country. It also created a shadow every successive Croatia team has been forced to deal with and has not come close to matching. Until now.
Croatia can equal what that 1998 team did if it beats Russia on Saturday in the quarterfinals and perhaps finally rid itself of that 20-year shadow.
The current squad of stars such as Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic will be held in the same esteem as the stars of '98 such as Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Slaven Bilic with one more victory.
Or if they can't get past the home team, they will be the latest Croatia team to fall short.
Head to head
Russia and Croatia have never faced off in a World Cup. They have played three times, with Russia yet to record a win. Two matches were goalless draws, with Croatia beating Russia 3-1 in a friendly in November, 2015 - their last meeting.
Probable Starting XI
Russia XI: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudryashov, Zobnin, Kuzyaev, Samedov, Golovin, Cheryshev, Dzyuba
Croatia XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Brozovic, Rebic, Modric, Perisic. Mandzukic
Match Prediction
Russia have had dream run in the tournament so far. Croatia on the other hand have been one of the most clinical sides. It seems the hosts' time to exit the party has come. 2-1 for Croatia.
(With Agencies inputs)
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