Russia begin Euro 2012 campaign

Russia start their attempt to qualify for Euro 2012 with a trip to minnows Andorra on Friday evening.

Russia start their attempt to qualify for Euro 2012 with a trip to minnows Andorra on Friday evening.

The match is the side’s first official game under new coach Dick Advocaat, who took over from compatriot Guus Hiddink earlier this year. Hiddink led Russia to the semifinals of Euro 2008, but failed to get the team to this summer’s World Cup.

Russia’s last visit to Andorra, for their concluding Euro 2008 qualifier, saw them battle to a 1-0 win against a team which has lost every UEFA qualifier they have played. However, the narrow victory was enough to take Russia to the finals after England crashed to defeat at home to Croatia.

“There is no reason to underestimate an opponent, but the most important thing is our organisation and discipline,” former Glasgow Rangers and Zenit St. Petersburg boss Advocaat said before the game, as quoted by the Sovetsky Sport newspaper.

Advocaat is likely to rest Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin ahead of Tuesday’s qualifier at home to Slovakia. Everton’s Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is to replace suspended Chelsea player Yury Zhirkov.

“It’s too early to say the game with Andorra is the start of the era of Advocaat for Russian football,” Bilyaletdinov said. “We need to see at first what we can achieve with him.”

The other sides in Group B are Macedonia, Ireland and Armenia.

MOSCOW, September 03 (RIA Novosti)