Russia coach Guus Hiddink admits he was surprised by his team's qualification for Euro 2008 and believes they are far from the finished article.
Russia laboured to a nervy 1-0 win over minnows Andorra on Wednesday, and pipped England to the second qualification spot in Group E after Steve McClaren's side were humbled by Croatia at Wembley.
Hiddink says the qualification is important for Russian football, but stressed that building for the future remains his side's priority.
"I was surprised to qualify. I am very happy and this means a lot for Russian football," said Hiddink.
"If we had lost, it would be more difficult to go on, but we are going step by step, and trying to apply this more modern management style and more modern way of playing.
"We are building for the future and I hope the responsible people who have power will use this momentum to improve infrastructure and youth development, update stadiums, so that Russian football can continue to improve.
"I would have said the same if we had lost, but it is easier to accomplish these things when you have success," he said.
After a hugely successful management career so far, Hiddink placed Russia's qualification up there with his best achievements.
"The most important achievement is always the one that happens at that moment," he added.
"Qualifying (for the World Cup) with Australia was important, winning our first game with South Korea at a World Cup was a huge achievement at that point, and this is very important now, but we are still building."
Hiddink is now hoping he will have a bigger pool of players to choose from in the future as Russian football places its hopes on youth development.
"At the moment, I am choosing 18 players from a pool of 30, so there is not so much to choose from," said Hiddink.
"The restriction of foreign players in Russian football will help the clubs to develop more young Russian players and this is what we need."
And the Dutchman insists that the process of modernising Russian football is ongoing.
"We have totally changed the way Russia play. Their style was very old-fashioned and we have modernised it, but we still have a lot of work to do. This team still has a lot to learn," concluded Hiddink.
Hiddink says the qualification is important for Russian football, but stressed that building for the future remains his side's priority.
"I was surprised to qualify. I am very happy and this means a lot for Russian football," said Hiddink.
"If we had lost, it would be more difficult to go on, but we are going step by step, and trying to apply this more modern management style and more modern way of playing.
"We are building for the future and I hope the responsible people who have power will use this momentum to improve infrastructure and youth development, update stadiums, so that Russian football can continue to improve.
"I would have said the same if we had lost, but it is easier to accomplish these things when you have success," he said.
After a hugely successful management career so far, Hiddink placed Russia's qualification up there with his best achievements.
"The most important achievement is always the one that happens at that moment," he added.
"Qualifying (for the World Cup) with Australia was important, winning our first game with South Korea at a World Cup was a huge achievement at that point, and this is very important now, but we are still building."
Hiddink is now hoping he will have a bigger pool of players to choose from in the future as Russian football places its hopes on youth development.
"At the moment, I am choosing 18 players from a pool of 30, so there is not so much to choose from," said Hiddink.
"The restriction of foreign players in Russian football will help the clubs to develop more young Russian players and this is what we need."
And the Dutchman insists that the process of modernising Russian football is ongoing.
"We have totally changed the way Russia play. Their style was very old-fashioned and we have modernised it, but we still have a lot of work to do. This team still has a lot to learn," concluded Hiddink.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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