Russia pulled off arguably the biggest upset in the Euro 08 qualifying stage when it downed England 2-1 in Moscow and knocked England out of the second spot in their qualifying group. This is Russia’s third appearance at the European Championships and it will try to advance past the first round for the first time in its history.
Manager Guus Hiddink, who won six Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven and is coaching his fourth national team, will count on striker Alexander Kerzhakov (Dynamo Moscow) to continue the scoring run that he started during qualifying, where he scored a team high six times. Russia brings a young team to Austria and Switzerland, with most of the players younger than 30, but Hiddink has proven that he can beat great teams despite the youth.
Many consider Russia the underdog of its group, which includes Sweden, Spain and the defending champions Greece, but that simply means Russia has nothing to lose and can concentrate on turning some heads and surprising the favorites.
Comments
MOTHER RUSSIA
ONLY ONE CAN BE THE BEST
Posted by: Sasa | June 7, 2008 02:08 PM
I hope Russia do well & go far in EURO 2008. For once I would like to see a team like Russia or maybe one of the smaller countries take the cup this time.
Posted by: Skippy | June 7, 2008 07:26 PM
Good Luck Mother Russian in Euro '08.
Posted by: Soviet! | June 7, 2008 07:33 PM
As a matter of fact, I am Russian, and I do really think that Russia has a chance this time to take the cup! Thanks to those who are for Russia. Better start tuning in!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 7, 2008 09:31 PM
I have loaded up on Baltica No#3 for my mini bar which I plan to drink when I watch the Russians' play. I think they have a very good chance to do well in this cup. I would love to see them come up against teams like Italy, Germany or Portugal & beat the asses off those teams really bad.
Posted by: Skippy | June 7, 2008 10:13 PM
Здарова всем. Россия чемпион....!
Posted by: Diniyar | June 8, 2008 08:17 AM
hi russia my name is jack. i love russia because they play great football and would love to go to russia it is a beautiful country i would go to moscow becuse i would meet the russian players like andrye ashvin he is my favorite player because he is the captain and he is a great player and pavluchenko he is a good goal scorer and bilyaletdinov he is the best midfielder i hope you wiil reply back i hope you guys do good in euro 2008.
Posted by: jack | June 8, 2008 11:38 AM
everybody say In my country what Russia gonna be knockt out ince group stages, Russia take England place in Euro 08. I believe Russia can do same think like Greece in last Euro.
Posted by: Lithuania fan | June 9, 2008 04:40 AM
Lets go russia YEAH!!!!!!
Posted by: Kyle | June 9, 2008 04:28 PM
Though russia beat England, i think they got a ways to go, and not that im downin them, just thad be a huge upset
Posted by: Futbol | June 10, 2008 04:08 PM
GO RUSSIA! GO!!!
Posted by: Tony | June 10, 2008 07:54 PM
Oh boy! Looks like the Russians drank too much vodka before the match with Spain.
Posted by: Dennis | June 11, 2008 01:56 AM
bring home the cup boys
Posted by: steven | June 11, 2008 07:18 PM
Вперед, Россия
Не опазортесь
Posted by: Ilya Gurynovich | June 11, 2008 10:47 PM
Hey Chuckha Gurynovich
Lighten up on the vodka and quit crying. Your almost as sore a loser as the Italians.
Posted by: Tsar Putin | June 12, 2008 02:10 AM
Salut!!!!!! Lets Go Russia lets Go!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 14, 2008 12:00 AM
Russia #1!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 14, 2008 05:46 PM
pidaraji si cazeoli
Posted by: Anonymous | June 15, 2008 02:50 AM
I would love to see Russia Win the cup that's where I was from so go all the way.
Posted by: Jenya | June 15, 2008 03:07 AM
racciya is gonna win
Posted by: vlad | June 16, 2008 12:10 PM
Россия втерёд не опозорьтесь
Posted by: Марик | June 16, 2008 08:04 PM
Давай Россия в перёд !!!!!!!! Надрём задницу Европейцам !!!!!!!! РОССИЯ ЧЕМПИОН !!!!!!!
Posted by: искандер | June 16, 2008 08:08 PM
РОССИЯ ЧЕМПИОН !!!! В НАТУРЕ
Posted by: MARK | June 16, 2008 08:24 PM
ШВЕДЫ 0-1 РОССИЯ..ПОЛУЧАТ ПИЗДЫ КАК ПОД ПОЛТАВОЙ
Posted by: MARIK | June 16, 2008 08:31 PM
i know russia will win. they are now in the quaterfinals and they can beat netherlands. for the motherland!
Posted by: alex | June 19, 2008 11:49 AM
go russia!!! Serbia and Montenegro are with you!!!
Posted by: Jeginho9 Russia | June 20, 2008 09:13 AM
hi doi nga vo dich
Posted by: anh | June 21, 2008 05:30 PM
ROSSIA CHEMPION!!!!!!! Molodtsi rebyata, sdelali gollandtsev 3-1!!!!!!
Posted by: artem | June 21, 2008 05:37 PM
M O T H E R R U S S I A
SHAMPIONS EUROPE 2008
Posted by: ALEKSANDAR | June 21, 2008 07:46 PM
M O T H E R R U S S I A
SHAMPIONS EUROPE 2008
Posted by: ALEKSANDAR | June 21, 2008 07:48 PM
M O T H E R R U S S I A
SHAMPIONS EUROPE 2008
Posted by: ALEKSANDAR | June 21, 2008 07:48 PM
Russia Champion:) Georgia "Tbilisi"
Posted by: Gio | June 22, 2008 07:43 AM
Malaci arli:))
VpirioT:))=))
Tqvens Gverdit varT=))Bratci
Posted by: Gio | June 22, 2008 07:45 AM
РОССИЯ ВПЕРЕД
ПОРВЕМ ИСПАНИЮ
Posted by: KOLYA | June 24, 2008 12:45 AM
Россия вперед!!!
ВАН ДЕР САР----ОТСОСАЛ!!!!
КАСИЛЬЯС--ЛЯЖЕТ!!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 24, 2008 05:34 PM
now that my picks are out, im with russia.
Ashavin #10 is definitaley the best player on that team.
Posted by: Man19@97 | June 24, 2008 09:20 PM
I hope Russia knocks Spain out on wednesday. I'm a Dutch fan but I will certainly back Russia now that we're out. The Russians have a lot of heart, best of luck to them against Spain.
Posted by: Gary | June 24, 2008 10:00 PM
GO Russia GO!!!
Russia is doing so well i hope they keep winning!!!
Posted by: G_lover | June 25, 2008 12:53 AM
I take russian in school. my teacher stopped class to watch the game against sweden. She is a total fanatic. She went crazy when the scored. now I am a total fan
Posted by: anonymous | June 25, 2008 12:47 PM
boo soviets you guys suckk
Posted by: matt | June 25, 2008 02:19 PM
Matt, if you don't like soviets, then drink your beer and be quet.
GO RUSSIA, GO!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 26, 2008 10:59 AM
im personaly from russia so i hope the russians win go ashavin !
Posted by: sam | June 27, 2008 05:21 PM
Russia is a great team.Go russia
Posted by: unanimus | June 28, 2008 02:00 PM
no matter whether they lost in the cup or not they will succeed another time and any way we took the uefa cup right? They did well and will continue their streak.
GO RUSSIA!!!!
Posted by: Genya | July 1, 2008 03:07 PM
hey you chaldon Tsar Putin sledi za bozarom, ato naidu i bazarite nechem budet
Posted by: ilya gurynovich | July 2, 2008 11:59 PM
go go Russia
Posted by: anonymus | July 5, 2008 03:08 PM
England,Holland,where are they ? oh!!! i can see only Russia
Posted by: Edgar | July 5, 2008 03:10 PM
Russia, Germany, where are they? OH!!!! I can only see Spain.VIVA LA ESPANA!!!!!
Posted by: That Guy | July 7, 2008 03:26 AM
we want to win real mardrid
Posted by: soccer fans | July 18, 2008 07:52 AM
why cristiano ronaldo does come to real maredrid of great big soccer club team ?
maybe real mardrid want a soccer marketing instead of ronaldo. real mardrid will be won soccer marketing in sports world. and real mardrid win at soccer game and at soccer marketing.
Posted by: man u | July 18, 2008 07:57 AM
this year at august in bejing olympic world soccer teams are Republica de Argentina Federative Republic of Brazil of south america Republic of Cameroon Republic of Cote d’Ivoire of africa Kingdom of the Netherlands Kingdom of Belgium Italian Republic servia of europe People's Republic of China Commonwealth of Australia South Korea japan of asia as we know all of world soccer is ended to this summer but in beijing olympic wait to world soccer fans we predict to winner of golden prize all most of people predict Federative Republic of Brazil Republica de Argentina will be winner of bejing olympic maybe we agree to we said and predicted anyway go to see bejing olympic this last summer soccer festival.
Posted by: winners | July 19, 2008 07:50 AM
Голландия ГАВНО!!!!!!!!!!!Россия ЧемпионЫ!!!!!!!
Posted by: Пердун Старый | July 19, 2008 10:16 AM
bravoo rusijaaa
Posted by: wfw | August 7, 2008 07:58 PM
WEL LOOK AT THIS RUSSIA VS HOLLAND 3-1, RUSSIA VS SPAIN 3-0, OH YEAH RUSSIA WAS DESTROY, OR SHOULD I CALL IT, USSR
Posted by: 456 | August 14, 2008 10:48 AM
ha! HA! WHAT DID THEY DO, INJECTED TO MUCH STEREODS INTO THE RUSSIAN FOOTBALLERS.
Posted by: 567 | August 14, 2008 10:51 AM
spain sucks russia rocks. spain are losers russia are champions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!russia is ##################111111111111111111111111!
Posted by: ronald | August 21, 2008 05:01 PM
rrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuuuu ssssssssssssssssssssssssss iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Posted by: ronald | August 21, 2008 05:03 PM
haha ....567....
Posted by: haha | August 26, 2008 03:51 PM
russia number 1!! andrei arshavin n roman bravo!!
Posted by: hendrik pizzaro | September 16, 2008 03:07 AM
ok i like vander sar but i hate russia
Posted by: bob | September 22, 2008 08:22 AM
pavlichenko sucks!!! russia needs to get a real striker!!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 23, 2008 10:50 AM
gooooooo russia
Posted by: Anonymous | September 26, 2008 12:25 AM
I LIVE
Posted by: GIANNIS | October 1, 2008 01:51 AM
russia will go all the way this year!!!! so watch russia win!!!!!!!
Posted by: nikolia | October 8, 2008 12:37 PM
RASSIAN ARE THE BEST AND I AM RUSSIAN TO SO GOOD LUCK PREVET VSEM GGGGGGGOOOOOO!!!!!
Posted by: andrey | October 13, 2008 08:04 PM
I am of Russian decent.
GO RUSSIA!!!!
Posted by: Louis | October 20, 2008 09:14 AM