More On :  Russia
HOW THEY QUALIFIED

  GROUP B GP W  D  L  GD PTS
1 Russia (Q)       10 7 2 1 13 23
2 Ireland (P) 10 6 3 1 8 21
3 Armenia 10 5 2 3 12 17
4 Slovakia 10 4 3 3 -3 15
5 Macedonia 10 2 2 6 -6 8
6 Andorra           10 0 0 10 -24 0


RESULTS TOP SCORERS
Sep 3, 2010 Andorra 0-2 Russia
Sep 7, 2010 Russia 0-1 Slovakia
Oct 8, 2010 Ireland 2-3 Russia
Oct 12, 2010 Macedonia 0-1 Russia
Mar 26, 2011:  Armenia 0-0 Russia
Jun 4, 2011: Russia 3-1 Armenia
Sep 2, 2011: Russia 1-0 Macedonia
Sep 6, 2011: Russia 0-0 Rep of Ireland
Oct 7, 2011: Slovakia 0-1 Russia
Oct 11, 2011: Russia 6-0 Andorra		 4 - Alan Dzagoev,
Roman Pavlyuchenko
2 - Aleksandr Kerzhakov
2 - Pavel Pogrebnyak
1 - Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Denis Glushakov,
Sergei Ignashevich,
Igor Semshov,
Roman Shirokov

Given the talent at the disposal of the coach and the relatively weak nature of their group, Russia came close to sabotaging their own passage to the finals. They only assured themselves of automatic qualification on the penultimate matchday with a 1-0 win away at Slovakia. That avenged the Slovaks' win on Russian soil on matchday two which left the two teams tussling with Ireland for top spot.

A win over the Irish in Dublin signposted Russian potential but there were slip-ups away to Armenia and at home to Ireland. Nonetheless, the defence was sturdy, giving up only four goals, while seven of 10 qualification matches ended in wins for Russia, the most impressive being the 6-0 mauling of Andorra on the final matchday.

PAST RECORD IN THE EUROS 

1960
 Winners
 1988
 Runners-up
1964
 Runners-up
 1992
 Group stage
1968
 Fourth place
 1996
 Group stage
1972
 Runners-up
 2000
 Did not qualify
1976
 Did not qualify
 2004
 Group stage
1980
 Did not qualify
 2008
 Semi-final
1984
 Did not qualify
 2012
 Qualified as group winners

Russia inherited the international legacy of the Soviet Union, who had a fine record in the tournament from its inception through its early incarnations. They were winners once, in the inaugural tournament in 1960, and reached the semi-finals at least on the next four occasions, finishing runners-up to Spain in 1964.

They were second again in 1988, to the Dutch, after a period of disappointment, but crashed out at the group stages in 1992, 1996 and 2004. Old form was recaptured during the reign of Guus Hiddink in 2008 when they reached the final four before being eliminated by eventual champions Spain.

THE MANAGER | DICK ADVOCAAT


A hugely respected coach on the domestic scene for his work with Zenit, Dick Advocaat has found himself unfavourably compared by press and public alike with his compatriot and predecessor in the national team hotseat, Guus Hiddink. A perceived unwillingness to alter his preferred personnel, his refusal to cap more than a handful of Russia's brightest young players and his lack of Russian have all given the critics ammunition with which to shoot him down.

However, he has managed to patch together enough decent results to take his team to Euro 2012. In the eyes of the Advocaat sceptics though, he will be taking Hiddink's team with him as he has shown a zealous propensity to choose players on their past merits rather than current form. Advocaat has his favourites and a favoured system. But some of the components are sub par and it is too late now for him to source alternatives.

THE CAPTAIN | ANDREY ARSHAVIN


The enigmatic Arshavin has been a shadow of his former self for club and country over the last 18 months or so and benefits on a personal level from Advocaat's willingness to stick by his favoured XI. Nonetheless, the 30-year-old has proven pedigree even if his standards have slipped since his 2008 annus mirabilis, when he won the Uefa Cup with Zenit and imposed himself on the international consciousness with his performances at Euro 2008.

Russia can look bereft of inspiration at times and Arshavin was once the man to whom they could reliably turn. His form and attitude need to improve before the tournament proper because he currently plays like a man short of motivation and inspiration.

THE STAR PLAYER | ALEKSANDR ANYUKOV


Arguably Russia's only world-class player, the Zenit right-back is a serial winner at club level and has an indefatigable constitution. Rarely troubled in a defensive capacity, the 29-year-old is also adept at getting forward past his midfielders to deliver balls to the box.

Anyukov provides the verve and energy for his side on the right flank. He has a wealth of experience from multiple Champions League campaigns with Zenit and is a favourite of Advocaat owing to the Dutchman's spell at the Petrovsky.

THE EMERGING TALENT | ALAN DZAGOEV


Alan Dzagoev has been the name on the lips of many Russian football aficionados for the past few years but the Beslan-born playmaker has yet to truly catch light. Now 21 years old, Dzagoev enjoyed a stellar first half of the Russian Premier League season with his club, CSKA Moscow, and is now considered a starter for his national side.

He seems to have finally convinced Advocaat of his suitability following two fine performances in October, against Slovakia and Andorra, and also netted in Ireland in Dublin earlier in the campaign.

The tempestuous prompter has endured some difficulty with his coach at club level and gives possession away cheaply at times but has the talent to become a vital player for club and country.

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Top Scorers
Player Goals Penalties
Roman Shirokov Roman Shirokov
Defender
Russia 		3 0
Aleksandr Kerzhakov Aleksandr Kerzhakov
Striker
Russia 		2 0
Andrey Arshavin Andrey Arshavin
Midfielder
Russia 		1 0