"We all believe in our national team, we will support them… I think the [Russian] team can finish as the group stage runners-up. We should not read too much into the friendly matches. When the competitive matches begin, we will see a completely different team,” Bulykin said.

Bulykin, who scored seven goals in 15 appearances for Russia between 2003 and 2005 and enjoyed successful club spells in the Netherlands and Germany, said he believed Uruguay were the favorites to win Group A.

“We have quite a good chance to come second. We need to beat Saudi Arabia and Egypt. I think this is well within Russia’s reach,” Bulykin said.

Russia will play the opening match of the World Cup on June 14 against Saudi Arabia and the two teams are joined in Group A by Uruguay and Egypt.