Given the talent at the disposal of the coach and the relatively weak nature of their group, Russia came close to sabotaging their own passage to the finals. They only assured themselves of automatic qualification on the penultimate matchday with a 1-0 win away at Slovakia. That avenged the Slovaks' win on Russian soil on matchday two which left the two teams tussling with Ireland for top spot.

A win over the Irish in Dublin signposted Russian potential but there were slip-ups away to Armenia and at home to Ireland. Nonetheless, the defence was sturdy, giving up only four goals, while seven of 10 qualification matches ended in wins for Russia, the most impressive being the 6-0 mauling of Andorra on the final matchday.

Russia inherited the international legacy of the Soviet Union, who had a fine record in the tournament from its inception through its early incarnations. They were winners once, in the inaugural tournament in 1960, and reached the semi-finals at least on the next four occasions, finishing runners-up to Spain in 1964.

They were second again in 1988, to the Dutch, after a period of disappointment, but crashed out at the group stages in 1992, 1996 and 2004. Old form was recaptured during the reign of Guus Hiddink in 2008 when they reached the final four before being eliminated by eventual champions Spain.

COACH - Dick Advocaat
A hugely respected coach on the domestic scene for his work with Zenit, Dick Advocaat has found himself unfavourably compared by press and public alike with his compatriot and predecessor in the national team hotseat, Guus Hiddink. A perceived unwillingness to alter his preferred personnel, his refusal to cap more than a handful of Russia's brightest young players and his lack of Russian have all given the critics ammunition with which to shoot him down.

However, he has managed to patch together enough decent results to take his team to Euro 2012. In the eyes of the Advocaat sceptics though, he will be taking Hiddink's team with him as he has shown a zealous propensity to choose players on their past merits rather than current form. Advocaat has his favourites and a favoured system. But some of the components are sub par and it is too late now for him to source alternatives.

CAPTAIN - Andrey Arshavin
The enigmatic Arshavin has been a shadow of his former self for club and country over the last 18 months or so and benefits on a personal level from Advocaat's willingness to stick by his favoured XI. Nonetheless, he has proven pedigree even if his standards have slipped since his 2008 annus mirabilis, when he won the Uefa Cup with Zenit and imposed himself on the international consciousness with his performances at Euro 2008.

Russia can look bereft of inspiration at times and Arshavin was once the man to whom they could reliably turn. His form and attitude need to improve before the tournament proper because he currently plays like a man short of motivation and inspiration.