"I am optimistic, our team is still set to face Turkey in a friendly [in Moscow on June 5]. This will be the dress rehearsal, which the team need to get ready for, bearing the game against Austria in mind," Byshovets said.

He added that he thought Russia’s chances to get past the group stage at the home World Cup were quite high.

“Uruguay and Egypt will be our main rivals. I think that the current lineup has tested the strategy that the team will build up at the World Cup,” Byshovets said.

According to him, the team needs to focus on the attack.

“It is important to make a diagnosis and then find the means that could help the [Russian national football] team get rid of the current flaws,” Byshovets said.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be held in 11 cities across Russia from June 14 till July 15, with the host nation set to face Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Group A.