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Slovenia reached the 2010 World Cup finals this evening but at the expense of a nine men Russia. A 44^th minute goal on a dramatic night in Maribor sealed Slovenia’s place. The Bochum striker taped the ball in from Valter Birsa’s cross minutes before half-time in what proved to be the game’s only goal to spark jubilant scenes at the Gradski Vrt stadium involving two sending offs. The first sending off, which was in the sixty sixth minute, was handed to Aleksandr Kerzhakov for an outrageous tackle. The second was in the ninetieth minute when Chelsea’s midfielder Yuri Zhirkov was awarded his second yellow.

Matjaz Kek kept the same eleven as he started in Moscow, whilst Russian boss Guus Hiddink brought in Lokomotiv Moscow’s Renat Yanbaev at left back and moved Yuri Zhirkov further forward to the left side of midfield.

Slovenia’s late goal in Moscow, gave the European country a lifeline as they began with real purpose. Whereas, the Russian’s started to look shaky and unconfident as the game progressed. This was shown as early as the fourth minute when a through ball from Birsa cut open the Russian defence allowing Milivoje Novakovic to drill a shot at goal but his finish lacked confidence as it was drilled in to the keepers hands.

Even though Russia lacked in defence, the match didn’t lack Russian chances. As only two minutes later, Sergei Ignashevich shot rebounded off the post.

As the clock ticked towards forty five minutes, the home supporters came alive inspiring an excellent goal for Dedic who put the home side in front (as you see to the left).

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Shortly after the break, Russian boss Hiddink introduced Sergei Semak and Aleksandr Kerzhakov for Pavlyuchenko and Yanbaev. With a ticket to the finals still in reach, Russia’s night went from bad to worse when a straight red was shown to Kerzhakov for a ridiculous foul on Slovenian goalkeeper Handanovic.

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The Sbornaja know that a win would have them snapping at the heels of Group 4 leaders Germany, whilst victory for Stuart Baxters’ Scandanavian side would see them leapfrog the Russians into second place, and stand them in good stead of qualifying for the first major tournament in their glory deprived history.

Key Men

The presence of Andrei Arshavin represents the most outstanding threat that this Russian side has to offer, and the Finnish centre backs will have to be well and truly up for the battle to deal with him.

After finishing the 2008/09 season in scintilating form for his club side Arsenal, he’ll be keen to replicate this explosion of goals and creativity on the international stage where he has excelled throughout Russia’s qualification campaign for South Africa 2010.

His pace and sheer technical ability will cause problems for the Finland back line if he’s not muted early on in the contest, and provides the frontmen with the assurance that a point point through ball or a clinically navigated cross is never impossible.

Backing up the threat of Arshavin is long time Chelsea target Yuri Zhirkov. Since his break through onto the international scene, the CSKA Moscow wing back has been a key figure in the Russian attack with his dominating forward runs and efficacious work ethic.

Regarded in the same league as other offensively utilised full backs of world football such as Daniel Alves, the threat of Zhirkov cannot be ignored by the plucky Finns’ – particularly as his link up play on the left hand side provides solid foundations for many of the Sbornaja’s forays into enemy territory.

To deal with the fulminations of the Russian attack, the home team turn to one of the favourite sons of Finnish football: former Liverpool star and skipper Sami Hyypia.

The seven-time Finnish footballer of the year is the third most capped player in the home sides history, and he will be looking to summon all of his experience to aid the rear guard of a team who are yet to be conquered on home soil this campaign.

In attack, the hopes of a nation are pinned on a player widely regarded as the greatest footballing export to ever come out of Finland. Jari Litmananen may be 38 years old now, but his performance in the 2-0 defeat of Wales in Cardiff last time out has proved that age is no issue, as he demonstrated his eternal class by setting up the opening goal.

Hiddink’s View

Guus Hiddink has returned from his interim spell in charge of Chelsea with yet another honour to add to his burdgeoning CV, but the Dutchman has returned in unassuming fashion to his task of being charged with the responsibility of taking Russia to the 2010 World Cup.

Typically respectful to his opposition, the FA Cup winning pioneer of this fluently attacking former Soviet Union side knows that his mission is far from over, and is under no illusion with regards to the consequences of defeat.

“On their home turf Finland are very strong and it will be very difficult to set the same pressure as in Moscow on them.” Hiddink said. “But I am sure this Russian team cannot simply play for a draw. It always plays openly and bravely, strives to score and win. That is our approach to football. It is the decisive game and only victory will let us compete for the ticket to World Cup 2010.”

Prediction

As mentioned, the Finn’s are unbeaten at home and manager Stuart Baxter will point to his sides 3-3 draw with Germany at the beginning of their campaign to serve as a reminder that they can mix it with the big boys. However, if Russia can eradicate any lingering confidence issues that may still be hanging over them after their dismal effort in Liechtenstein, then Jussi Jaaskelainen can expect his goal to be peppered thoroughly throughout the night. Finland will once again show their resilience, but with Russia having a technical edge over their counterparts, expect Guus Hiddinks team to prevail.

Prediction: Finland 0 Russia 2

With Guus Hiddink at the helm of the Russian ship they were initially clear favourites alongside Germany to advance from Group 4, but with the somewhat suprising challenge mounted by a Finland side growing in confidence they can ill-afford to become complacent if they are to etch their name into the draw for South Africa 2010.

Russia v Wales

Russia began their campaign against a Wales side who kicked off their own offensive on the qualifying stages four days earlier with a nervy 1-0 victory against Azerbaijan. The Lokomotiv Stadium was rocking from kick off, and the Russian intent was outlined early on with Andrei Arshavin cutting back for Roman Pavlyuchenko, only for the Spurs‘ hitman to fire straight into the palms of Wayne Hennessy from 10 yards.

After weathering an early storm of pressure from a home side bristling with attacking prowess, Wales were awarded a penalty when Gareth Bale’s surge into the Russian penalty area was brought to an abrupt end by Igor Semshov’s trip. The Spur’s full back dusted himself off to take the kick, but Igor Akinfeev dealt comfortably with the attempt from 12-yards which was at an ideal height for the CSKA stopper to palm away.

Where Akinfeev succeeded, his opposite number Hennessey failed. Konstantin Zyrianov fell under a challenge from Craig Morgan, and Pavlyuchenko made no mistake, chipping down the middle and breaking the deadlock in the process.

As the rain continued to fall in Moscow into the second half, Pavlyuchenko was again the driving force of the Russian attacks as he sent a deflected long range effort wide, before the Welsh showed their resilience when Bale made amends for his missed spotkick by teeing up Joe Ledley to level it up.

However, Russia made sure of the points as they poured forwards in the closing stages of the match. Andrei Arshavin continued to hamper the opposing defence and duly set up the winner with nine minutes remaining – the Arsenal star’s chip into the box resulted in Zyrianov’s effort being pushed away by Hennessey, but only as far as Pavel Pogrebnyak who capitalised on a poor clearance and slotted home.

Germany v Russia

A month later and Guus Hiddink took his troops to Dortmund where they would face off against hot favourites Germany. In what was seen by many as the glamour tie of the group, the former Chelsea manager saw his side plundered by a typically efficient display from Joachim Loew’s men even before the end of the first half.

After just eight minutes some superb play on the edge of the box from Bastian Schweinsteiger provided the perfect threaded through ball for Lukas Podolski who turned and fired a subliminal and fierce drive past a flailing Akinfeev.

The decline deepened half way through the first 45 minutes when Piotr Trochowski sent a low chip into the area for the influential Schweinsteiger who controlled superbly, and kept the composure to set up a rapidly advancing Michael Ballack. The German skipper made absolutely certain that Akinfeev would be picking the ball out of his net for the second time in just 23 first half minutes.

Hiddink will have been furious with his sides showing in the first half, and his team talk appeared to have paid dividends five minutes into the second period when Andrei Arshavin converted from point blank range to reduce the defecit.

Despite having time on their side, Russia were unable to produce an equaliser and the Germans slammed their authority on the group.

Russia v Finland

Four days later and it was back to Moscow, where they replicated their second half display in Dortmund against Finland. With the Russian’s exploding out of the blocks, Finland were caught cold on several occasions as Yuri Zhirkov threatened consistently with his pace and driving runs, and it paid off on 23 minutes when he exchanged passes with Arshavin before his chip over Jussi Jaaskelainen was haplessly bundled over the line by Petri Pasanen for an own goal.

The trend for own goals continued into the second half as Finland continued to afford the Russian’s creative hub in Arshavin time and space; the Arsenal man’s cross was met minimally by Semak, but Zhyrianov drove the ball back across the goal and it was met this time by a despairing Lampi who only had his own poor positioning to blame for putting the home side 2-0 up.

A superb display from the dynamic Arshavin was capped with a magnificent solo effort in the dying minutes, evading a pincer-movement from the Finnish centre backs before rounding Jaaskelainen and sealing a 3-0 win in outstanding fashion.

Russia v Azerbaijan

Into 2009 and it was the turn of Azerbaijan to visit the venue of the 2008 Champions League final, who remained on a solitary point gained in Baku during a stalemate with fellow minnows Liechtenstein.

The former Soviet state showed just why their points tally was so meagre when Arshavin almost put the Sbornaja ahead within three minutes.

Azerbaijan battled bravely through the first half an hour with some stout defending, along with a lack of cutting edge from the Guus Hiddink’s men. But the bubble was burst spectacularly on 32 minutes when the continued application of Russian attacking movements proved too much for the part timers. A free kick awarded on the edge of the 18-yard box was curled home by Spurs’ star Roman Pavlyuchenko – Moscow breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the away side ventured forward on occasion and proved that they were not just a side making up the numbers, an aesthitically gratifying team effort was rounded off by Zyrianov who assured that the 3 points were to be Russia’s.

Liechtenstein v Russia

Following the explosive attacking display in Moscow a month earlier, Hiddink’s men were tamed away from home against another of the groups weaker sides in Liechtenstein.

The only goal of the game came courtesy of Konstantin Zyrianov whose chipped effort trickled over the line and consolidated the Russian occupation of the second qualifying spot in group 4.

How Thing’s Stand…

After having missed the first two games due to suspension, Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin was surely the best player for Russia, followed closely by Roman Pavlyuchenko. In an interview at the Moscow airport, Hiddink said that he is proud of the team’s performance, but wants to continue building and improving on their success.

“The aim was to get in the second round which was not easy. We played some good games and got to the semi-final and ended with a bronze medal.”

“We want to do better and better but the team is growing and we can be immensely proud.” – Guus Hiddink

With the win over the Russia, Spain sets up a breathtaking final with Germany. Against Guus Hiddink’s Russia, Luis Aragones’ side was driven by Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, who had a wonderful performance coming on as a substitute. Cesc came on for the injured David Villa, the current top scorer in Euro 2008, but who will miss the Vienna Final on Sunday. Spain opened the score on the 50 minute mark with Xavi converting Iniesta’s cross. With 17 minutes to go before the final whistle, unlikely goalscorer Daniel Guiza scored after a wonderful pass from Fabregas. Valencia’s David Silva scored the third for Spain after another pass from the undisputed man of the match, Cesc Fabregas.

Russia were well-beaten for the second time this summer by a margin of 3 goals. The Spain national football team is the favourite to lift the trophy on Sunday 29th June at the  Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna. They have won all their matches this summer, getting maximum points from their group-stage and defeating Italy and Russia on the way to the Final. The Germans showed that they have a weak point, that the Spanish may take advantage from, in their loss against Croatia in the group-stage. It will surely be a tense final, but we do not anticipate many goals, as the guardians of the posts are both world-class goalkeepers.

Russia

• 1 Akinfeev (GK)
• 22 Anyukov
• 2 Berezutsky
• 4 Ignashevich
• 18 Zhirkov
• 11 Semak
• 17 Zyryanov
• 20 Semshov
• 9 Saenko
• 19 Pavlyuchenko
• 10 Arshavin

Spain

• 1 Casillas (GK)
• 15 Sergio Ramos
• 4 Marchena
• 5 Puyol
• 11 Capdevilla
• 6 Iniesta
• 8 Xavi
• 19 Senna
• 21 Silva
• 7 Villa
• 9 Torres

To incentivate the players, Pyotr Listerman, a rich Russian socialite, has offered players two girls for every goal that they score. Beer for the Austrians must have been a great reward, but the prospect of Russian girls outclasses this promise. Should Russia come out victorious, it would be the first time that the country reached a final of a major competition ever since the USSR was disbanded. Let’s see who will be the lucky player/s tonight. The most likely to score are Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin.

“For each goal I’ll present two beautiful chicks. Watch the guys react.” – Pyotr Listerman

“There are a number of bachelors in our team. This is a great incentive.” – Andrei Arshavin about this promise

Russia boss Guus Hiddink, known as the Magician in Russia, will have no injury worries ahead of the match against Spain. However, he will be without suspended duo Kolodin and Torbinski. Spain and Russia/USSR have met nine times in their history, with the Spaniards winning 5 times while Russia won just once. Spain are on an unbeaten 20-match run and are clear favourites to earn a place in the final to set a Germany vs Spain final on Sunday 29th June.

However, Russia have all the means to break Spain’s run of success. Russia were thrashed by Spain when they met in the group stage with the score of 4-1. However, Russia have recovered their form, after a slamming by Guus Hiddink, and are seen as surprise contenders for Euro 2008.

Anything may happen in football. Arshavin’s current form may not only hand him his much-desired contract at Barcelona, but also hand his country the Euro 2008 trophy and make him a hero for Russia.

Enjoy some pictures from Spain vs Russia, played on the 10th July, just sixteen days ago:

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