Coach: Guus Hiddink
Group A: Russia, Greece, Sweden and Spain

Banking on home strength

After recent success for Russian club sides in Europe, Guus Hiddink and the management team in Russia will be hoping that they can translate that form into the international arena. Russia so often promise much but deliver little at major tournaments. However, the inclusion of six Zenit players, who won the Russian League and UEFA Cup in recent months, will raise hopes that they can assist the national side and transform them from into international heavyweights.

This isn’t the first time that Russian club sides have enjoyed success on the continent. CSKA Moscow have already conquered the UEFA Cup, winning the trophy in 2005. The day after that famous victory in Lisbon, Russian newspaper Sport Express boldly claimed: “that Russian football henceforth will be divided into two periods: Before and after Lisbon."

And, whilst that may have rung generally true for Russian club football it certainly didn’t hold for the national team, who with a core of CSKA players from the 2004/05 season still couldn’t manage qualification for the World Cup in 2006.

Even when Russia have managed to qualify for various major tournaments, their last impact on the international stage stretches back some 20 years when the USSR finished as runners-up in Euro 88 in Germany. Since that final appearance and the collapse of communism they have appeared as the CIS or Russia, but haven’t been past the group stages of a major tournament, often hamstrung by the surprise package of the tournament, qualifying at their expense, when one of the other major countries in their group fails to deliver (1996 – Czech Republic or 2004 – Greece).

Their failure to profit where others have flourished finally caused the Russian FA to bring in a foreign manager to try and generate that winning spirit amongst an obviously talented squad. They eventually settled on the Dutch manager Guus Hiddink, who after consecutive success with both PSV (Champions League semi final 2005) and Australia (round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup), was deemed by the Russian FA to be the right man for the job.

Revolution

Hiddink triggered something of a Dutch revolution within the Russian game. Dick Advocaat followed soon after to Zenit St. Petersburg, establishing them as the team to beat in Russia, and Dutch or Dutch based players have also dipped their toes into the Russian league such as Fernando Ricksen or Quincy Owusu Abeyie.

However, the success of Zenit in the UEFA Cup this season has been built largely on a Russian foundation, with only some minimal foreign input into the side. Indeed despite several Russians plying their trade abroad, Hiddink has selected only one foreign based player in the form of Nuernberg’s Ivan Saenko, so clearly the talent is beginning to come through.

The squad is based mainly on a core from Zenit but the defence is built largely around CSKA’s, whilst the other Muscovite sides Spartak (who probably have the biggest foreign influence), FC and Dynamo all contribute.

The arrival of Hiddink has also seen players from the provinces called up and teams such as Rubin Kazan and Amkar Perm, both of whom have enjoyed excellent starts to the new Russian season, also have representatives in the squad. This shift in policy is largely thanks to the arrival of Hiddink, who has not been afraid to cast his net further a field, and hasn’t sought to keep the central powers happy by selecting only players from the main team.

Rocky road

Qualification to Euro 2008 was a rocky road for the winners of the inaugural 1960 European Championship. Away form was poor, with defeats in Israel and England, a 0-0 draw in Croatia along with a narrow 0-1 victory over the minnows of Andorra, and their performances away from Russia will have to pick up if they wish to succeed in Austria and Switzerland.

A 2-1 victory over England in the penultimate group game in Moscow was enough to give Russia a crucial edge over their main rivals for the second spot, and whilst the Croats did them a favour at Wembley by beating England 2-3, they were good value for their second place finish.

Philosophy

Therefore Russia will have to look to translate their home form, which saw them go through qualifying unbeaten - held only by Croatia and Israel to draws - to the Euro 2008 tournament itself.

The Russian approach has been based largely on Hiddink’s philosophy of attacking football built on the foundation of a high tempo pressing game. This has largely worked, as it makes the most of both the excellent standards of fitness generally found amongst players in Russia and also their excellent technique.

With plenty of versatility in the team, Hiddink can opt for several different approaches to the game, which include starting with a back three such as the one favoured at CSKA Moscow or a more conventional four man defence, preferred at both Zenit and Spartak. Whilst varying the tactics wasn’t always a successful policy in qualification, Russia’s ambitious three man attack at Wembley was a disaster and they nearly found themselves knocked out after a costly 3-0 defeat, Hiddink won’t be afraid to try something different.

With 12 players under the age of 25 in the squad, there is a young and fresh feel to the team, but the lack of experience in major international competitions could be an issue. No player in the 23 man squad has played more than 50 international games for Russia.

In goal

In goal the youthful Igor Akinfeev will fight it out with Vyachleslav Malafeev for a place in the starting XI. Malafeev is with Zenit St Petersburg and at 29 is one of the elder statesmen in the team. With 15 caps to his name his greater experience may just stand him in good stead.

However, Akinfeev proved himself to be an excellent prospect and was one of the few CSKA players to emerge from the Russian side’s disastrous participation in this seasons Champions League with any credit. The 22 year old is an outstanding shot stopper and also confident in marshalling his penalty area, so could push Malafeev all the way for a starting place.

Third choice goalkeeper is FC Kuban’s Vladimir Gabulov, who is on loan this season at Amkar Perm. The provincial side are currently riding in third place in the embryonic Russian league, with Gabulov in goal as first choice. With only six goals conceded in the league all season, Amkar have the tightest defence of any team and Gabulov’s inclusion shows that Hiddink is prepared to consider form as well as class.

Defence

The defence will have a familiar look about it as the majority of it will be taken from the CSKA side. The familiarity that they should have with each other will no doubt be of benefit to Russia over the course of Euro 2008.

The Berezutskiy brothers - Vasili and Aleksei - are both excellent centre backs and at 26 are now fixtures for both club and country at the heart of the defence. Both are over 6'0 (1.90m) and outstanding in their own area, as well as proving a threat in the opposition's box from set pieces.

Their colleague at club level also comes along to Euro 2008; the abrasive Sergei Ignashevich. The tough tackling stopper often plays between the Berezutskiy’s for CSKA and if Hiddink opts for a back three, it is highly likely they will all start.

Zenit defender Roman Shirkov also made the squad. At 26, he has only one international cap to his name and after breaking through with CSKA, was released before making his name eventually with FC Khimki and Rubin before being signed to Zenit. However, it wasn’t until late in the UEFA Cup run that was he even played, when he made his debut in the tournament in the semi final. Impressing since, he is another like Gabulov, who has been included for form rather than class reasons.

The final centre-back option will be Dynamo’s Denis Kolodin, who has 10 caps to his name. The 26 year old - who is yet to score for his country - has an unusually high goal average for a defender of one in seven, as he generally takes all penalties for his club.

The exciting Aleksandr Anyukov will be the most likely starter on the right side of defence. The Russians' answer to Sevilla’s Daniel Alves, Anyukov loves to raid forward, often overlapping his winger and delivering excellent crosses, such as the one that set up the first Zenit goal in the UEFA Cup final. Capable of playing as a wing back as well, at 25, the versatile Anyukov is ripe for a move abroad if he shines at Euro 2008.

Despite their disappointing season in 2007, Lokomotiv contribute their left back Renat Yanbayev to the team. The uncapped defender until recently, made his debut in the team in the recent 2-1 victory over Serbia, and is another who has made a late bid for inclusion into Hiddink’s team.

Waiting in the wings

More attacking options for the wide positions, especially if Russia need to attack, can be found in the shape of left winger Yuri Zhirkov and right winger Vladimir Bystrov, both of whom are genuine and pacey wingers. The experiment of playing Zhirkov as a left wing back at Wembley didn’t work so Hiddink will need to be desperate to try either in that position if he opts for a 3-5-2 formation. However, both could make an appearance on their respective wing if Hiddink opts for a 4-4-2 formation.

The versatile colleague of Yanbayev, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov can play anywhere across the back-line or midfield. He has been scouted by various top sides and is currently believed to have his registration held by Chelsea, although he remains in Russia with Lokomotiv for the time being.

Stuck in the middle

Other central midfield options include the diminutive Igor Shemsov. Despite standing at only 5'7, (1.70m) the Dynamo Moscow player lives up to the name of his club. After initially breaking onto the Russian scene as a raw teenager, a ban for assaulting a referee forced him to calm down and he has since matured at 30 into an asset in central midfield for both club and country.

The more attacking Konstanin Zyrianov was one of the mainstays of Zenit’s progress to the final this season, scoring goals in both the semi final and final matches. However, his record if no goals in his nine international caps needs to be improved on. Nevertheless his intelligent passing and contributions to the attack could be a feature of Russia’s play.

32 year old Sergei Semak is the oldest player of the squad and is possibly the most attacking of the central midfield players named. The well-travelled midfielder is currently with ambitious Rubin Kazan and has enjoyed a strong start to the Russian season, currently one of the highest scoring midfielders in the league at the moment with four goals already.

Short up front

Up front, Hiddink would have hoped to start with the Zenit pair of Andrei Arshavin and Pavel Pobrebnyak. The pair took Europe by storm this season and have formed an outstanding partnership. However, injury may rule out Pobrebnyak and Arshavin will be suspended for the first two group matches.

Arshavin has already been linked with a move to the Premiership, with the like of Everton, Spurs and Newcastle all thought to have an interest in the player. An outstanding link player with a tall targetman such as Pobrebnyak, Arshavin is comfortable with the ball played to feet, loves to take players on and has an eye for goal, which has earned him a strike ratio of one in three at international level. However, a late sending off against Andorra will rule him out of the first two matches of Euro 2008.

His colleague Pobrebnyak could be a doubt for the tournament after picking up an injury in the early stages of the friendly win over Serbia. Having missed out on the UEFA Cup final after scoring two of Zenit’s goals against Bayern because of suspension, missing out on the chance to play in Euro 2008 would be a double blow. Brilliant in the air, Pobrebnyak perfectly complements the smaller Arshavin, and the pair could be one of the strongest attacks at Euro 2008, if Pobrebnyak wins his race for fitness.

If injury does keep Pobrebnyak on the sidelines, Russia are fortunate to have an excellent replacement in the shape of Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Spartak Moscow striker has a brilliant record in the league, but his four goals in 14 games at international level needs to be improved on. Often accused of being selfish, Pavlyuchenko may have the chance to shine if Pobrebnyak misses out.

Similar in style to Arshavin and likely stand in Dmitri Sychev - who scored the goal against Andorra that took Russia to Euro 2008 - has a respectable record of 14 goals in 37 games for Russia. Despite being just 24, Sychev is fairly well-travelled - having had a disappointing spell in France with Marseille before soon returning to his homeland. Now under contact with Lokomotiv Moscow, he scored 11 goals last season.

Another forward option is FC Moscow’s Roman Adamov. With two goals in the league this season, he is his side’s joint top scorer, but hit 14 in just 28 games last season as FC Moscow enjoyed their best ever position in the league.

The only foreign based player in the squad of 23 is Nuernberg Ivan Saenko. The left footed forward suffered relegation with his German side this season, after helping them to the German Cup final in 2006/07. Capable of playing on the left side of midfield as well as centrally, Saenko is likely to only be a reserve, given the quality of the other forward options available to Hiddink.

Round-up

So have Russia got enough to cause a surprise at Euro 2008? In terms of their ability, certainly. Using the spine of the team from Zenit is a good way forward and the team after training with Dutchman Dick Advocaat will be used to Hiddink’s methods. With most players having only played 10 League matches this season fatigue isn’t likely to be an issue and Russia could be the freshest side at Euro 2008. Combined with their youthful average age of just over 26, this could be a significant advantage.

Russia will probably be vying with Sweden for qualification from Group D along with Spain. However, the qualifiers from this group are due to meet either the winners or runners-up from Group C (likely to be one from Italy, France or the Netherlands) so progression beyond the quarter finals is hard to envisage for the Russians, unless they really exceed themselves.

Nevertheless a quarter final appearance would be solid progression from a team that has failed to reach the knockout stages of any tournament since 1988.