RUSSIA coach Guus Hiddink has warned Spain not to get carried away with last night's 4-1 victory over his side and insists their true title credentials will not be revealed until they are given a real test.
The Russians battled hard in what was both sides' opening match of Euro 2008, but came off second-best against the slick Spaniards, for whom Valencia hitman David Villa netted a hat-trick.
It was the ideal start for Luis Aragones' men - but history would suggest that the result cannot be taken as any sort of indicator of Spain's hopes of winning the title.
Four years ago at Euro 2004, Spain also beat Russia in their opening match before failing to make it out of the group, while in the 2006 World Cup they began with a 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine before then falling in the first knockout stage against France.
Hiddink admits Spain were superior to his side, but he also believes his players contributed to their own demise and as such feels Spain cannot read too much into their win.
"I don't want to be misinterpreted, but I would like to see how Spain react when they have to face an opponent who will offer them better opposition, against a team who know the law of international competition," said Hiddink, who admitted in the build-up to the tournament that his players lacked experience of the big events.
"We have been our own worse enemies at the crucial moments."
Referring to October's match in Moscow where Russia hit back from 1-0 down to beat England 2-1, Hiddink added: "I genuinely believed, even at 2-0, that if we got a goal then the result might turn as in our qualifying match against England.
"We weren't very streetwise and I hope we can learn a lesson from this. We were very naive."
Spain's final two games in the group stages pit them against Sweden and reigning champions Greece.
Should they negotiate their way past those matches, then Aragones' men will meet one of the teams from the 'group of death' in the quarter-finals, facing one of Holland, France, Italy or Romania.
Spain midfielder David Silva is not looking too far ahead though, and insists his side will not allow the Russia win to go their heads.
"We have obtained what we all wanted, to win our first game. We need to go step by step though, because there are still two games remaining," he said.
"We have started well but we must keep our feet on the ground and continue along this line."
It was the ideal start for Luis Aragones' men - but history would suggest that the result cannot be taken as any sort of indicator of Spain's hopes of winning the title.
Four years ago at Euro 2004, Spain also beat Russia in their opening match before failing to make it out of the group, while in the 2006 World Cup they began with a 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine before then falling in the first knockout stage against France.
Hiddink admits Spain were superior to his side, but he also believes his players contributed to their own demise and as such feels Spain cannot read too much into their win.
"I don't want to be misinterpreted, but I would like to see how Spain react when they have to face an opponent who will offer them better opposition, against a team who know the law of international competition," said Hiddink, who admitted in the build-up to the tournament that his players lacked experience of the big events.
"We have been our own worse enemies at the crucial moments."
Referring to October's match in Moscow where Russia hit back from 1-0 down to beat England 2-1, Hiddink added: "I genuinely believed, even at 2-0, that if we got a goal then the result might turn as in our qualifying match against England.
"We weren't very streetwise and I hope we can learn a lesson from this. We were very naive."
Spain's final two games in the group stages pit them against Sweden and reigning champions Greece.
Should they negotiate their way past those matches, then Aragones' men will meet one of the teams from the 'group of death' in the quarter-finals, facing one of Holland, France, Italy or Romania.
Spain midfielder David Silva is not looking too far ahead though, and insists his side will not allow the Russia win to go their heads.
"We have obtained what we all wanted, to win our first game. We need to go step by step though, because there are still two games remaining," he said.
"We have started well but we must keep our feet on the ground and continue along this line."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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