EURO 2012: Introducing Group A - Russia

FOOTBALL – Ahead of Euro 2012, we will present you a short profile of all teams taking part. We continue with Russia, who won the very first European Championship in 1960. Russia will play the second match of the tournament when they face Czech Republic on Friday, 8 June.

How qualified: Winners Group B

Coach: Dick Advocaat (NED)

Key players: Konstantin Zyryanov, Andrei Arshavin, Pavel Pogrebnyak

> Russia were the first country to win the European Championship. In 1960, the competition was still called European Nations Cup and Russia were still the Soviet Union. They would continue to appear as such until 1988, took part as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 1992 and after that as Russia.

> Dick Advocaat also led Netherlands at Euro 2004 and will become the third head coach to lead different countries at a European Championship. Predecessor Guus Hiddink led the same countries (Holland in 1996 and Russia in 2008) and Giovanni Trapattoni will lead Republic of Ireland in 2012, having been in charge of Italy in 2004.

> Russia’s Vladimir Granat is one of two uncapped outfield players going into Euro 2012. The other is Italy’s Emanuel Giaccherini.

> Aleksandr Anyukov and Igor Semshov can become the first Russians to play in their third European Championships.

> Roman Pavlyuchenko joins Valentin Ivanov and Viktor Ponedelnik on three goals at European Championships, most by Russians.

> At Euro 2008, Russia scored once and conceded seven times against Spain, scored six times and conceded once against other teams.

> In qualifying for Euro 2008, only two players featured in all 10 matches by Russia, Andrei Arshavin and defender Vasily Berezutsky. The latter, twin brother of Aleksey Berezutsky, has been ruled out by injury and replaced by previously uncapped Kirill Nababkin.