Guus Hiddink’s gamble of taking the previously suspended Andrei Arshavin to UEFA EURO 2008 paid off in spectacular fashion with the forward putting in a fine performance as Russia downed Sweden 2-0 to set up a Basel quarter-final against the Netherlands on Saturday.

Back in style
The FC Zenit St. Petersburg player was a constant menace to a Sweden side requiring only a draw to stay above their opponents on goal difference, scoring Russia’s second goal and striking the post in the second half. If Arshavin showed what Russia had been missing in their first two games, his team-mates displayed class of their own when a fine move resulted in Roman Pavlyuchenko’s breakthrough strike after 24 minutes in Innsbruck.

Guessing game over
With much of the talk in the build-up to the Group D decider centring around Arshavin and Zlatan Ibrahimović, the news that both were starting came as something of a surprise. Hiddink had hinted that Arshavin was not match-fit while the condition of Ibrahimović’s knee meant the target man was a doubt until the last minute. The Russia coach was at least true to his promise that his side would chase victory from the off. Arshavin’s pass into the middle of the Sweden area saw Igor Semshov and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov collide with the goal at their mercy, although Lars Lagerbäck’s men threatened in return soon after. Anders Svensson’s cross found Ibrahimović, only for the No10’s downward header to be collected by Igor Akinfeev with Henrik Larsson lurking.

Fine opener
Arshavin and Bilyaletdinov missed chances as the quarter-hour approached before the former sent in a cross-shot that goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson tipped over. From Konstantin Zyryanov’s corner, Yuri Zhirkov’s thunderous shot zipped just wide. Then Russia’s moment arrived. Arshavin released Zyryanov down the right and the midfielder in turn found Aleksandr Anyukov’s run inside the box. The right-back rolled a pass to Pavlyuchenko and the tall striker calmly finished for his second goal of the finals. Sweden almost levelled moments later but Larsson’s clever header from a Mikael Nilsson cross bounced back off the bar. At the other end, Pavlyuchenko’s next effort struck an upright after another slick interchange involving Arshavin and Bilyaletdinov.
Lead doubled
Five minutes after the break and Russia had their second goal. Makeshift left-back Zhirkov found himself racing away from the Sweden defence before he crossed for the returning hero – on the run, Arshavin had no problem directing the ball past Isaksson’s right hand. Sweden were visibly rocked and although their players began to react in the final third of the pitch, the best they could manage was an Olof Mellberg header that flew harmlessly over Akinfeev’s crossbar. It was turning into the Andrei Arshavin show and after the little maestro was booked for upending substitute Kim Källström, he was almost through on goal again but was finally outmuscled by Fredrik Stoor.

Spurned chances
With the contest entering its closing stages, Russia should have enhanced their advantage as their enterprising attacking play produced several late chances. Zyryanov went close when his deflected attempt came back off the post before Pavlyuchenko spurned two great opportunities – first heading straight into the grateful hands of Isaksson, then mis-hitting a shot with only the goalkeeper to beat. No matter: the 2-0 scoreline was enough for them to overhaul Sweden by three points and finish second behind Spain.

Guus Hiddink is adopting a positive approach as he prepares his Russia side for their do-or-die UEFA EURO 2008 Group D game against Sweden in Innsbruck, iterating: “There’s no other way to play than by trying to win from the first minute.”

Three points required
The sides are level on three points in the section having each lost to Spain and defeated holders Greece although Sweden have a superior goal difference, meaning Hiddink’s side will be eliminated if the game at the Stadion Tivoli Neu ends in anything but victory for them. With a quarter-final against his native Netherlands the reward, the coach is keen to accentuate the positives, saying: “We’re happy to have the opportunity to play this decisive game, especially when you see that other teams have gone home already. I’d have preferred the option to go for a draw but it’s OK.”

Arshavin available
Andrei Arshavin is available for the first time in these finals after serving a two-match ban yet there are no guarantees the FC Zenit St. Petersburg playmaker will start as Hiddink ponders possible changes to a team he believes did a “decent job” in defeating Greece 1-0 on Saturday. “There’s a lack of rhythm to Arshavin’s game because he hasn’t played recently. He’s not match-fit so I don’t know if he’ll start,” said the coach. Yuri Zhirkov and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov are also likely to be available, despite bruised knees picked up against the deposed holders and Dmitri Torbinski is recovering from fatigue.

‘Easy to read’
The 61-year-old Hiddink has never before encountered Swedish opposition in his long coaching career, though with Russia having failed to beat the Scandinavian side in five attempts as an independent nation, he is under no illusions as to the task ahead. “Despite a population of eight or nine million, Sweden always manage to be in the big tournaments. They’re easy to read; they’re very clear in the way they play and have always had good results playing like this. We like to play very attacking football when possible but the dirty work – the defensive work-rate – also needs to be done. [Sweden] aren’t easily upset nor do they panic. It’s a very controlled and concentrated squad.” 

Ibrahimović in doubt
Sweden have progressed to the knockout stage at their last three major tournaments, although coach Lars Lagerbäck found himself fielding more questions about the state of Zlatan Ibrahimović’s knee – which forced his half-time substitution in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Spain – than on how his team would go about gaining the point they need to advance. “We’re not sure about Ibrahimović. We have an individual training plan for him,” said Lagerbäck, already without Christian Wilhelmsson due to a hamstring problem while Niclas Alexandersson is struggling with a calf strain.

‘Nothing dramatic’
“Russia have a strong team offensively and we have to be very focused on that,” the Sweden coach added. “All their players are good; they’re very strong on the left side in particular. We always prepare in a similar way. There’s nothing dramatic, it’s just about being ready for all the eventualities that may arise. What we need to improve on is keeping the ball in the final third. It’s very difficult to say who are the favourites as it’s such a decisive game. It starts at 50-50 I think.”

Coach Lars Lagerbäck will be encouraged that, from the mixed zone after the last-gasp Group D defeat by Spain in Innsbruck, came the positive vibe that Sweden will still reach the knockout stage.
Painful goal
However, there were distinctly differing views about how long David Villa’s stoppage-time winner will sting for, how much damage it may do to morale, and whether or not Sweden actually merited a draw. Without question there is a resilience and character about this Sweden side which will be required if physical and spiritual wounds are to be licked and repaired in time for Wednesday’s match against Guus Hiddink’s Russia – when a draw will be enough to take Sweden through.
‘Dream alive’
Petter Hansson, who was edged out of the way by Fernando Torres for Spain’s opener and turned by Villa for the clincher after an otherwise solid game, said of the 2-1 reverse: "Losing a match like that lives with you. The Swedish dream is alive, there is no doubt about that, but I’ll be thinking about those final seconds for a long time yet, believe me. We made a really good effort and I think that tells you much about this team. But if Torres and Villa have one chance each and score both of them, then that tells you they are world class." The 31-year-old Stade Rennais FC centre-back believes Russia will offer a contrasting test as Sweden try to shrug off this loss and sift the positive from the negative. "I know we can defeat Russia and although I’ve not spent too much time analysing them, I think they are a team which likes to get forward at you, to overlap, but which doesn’t have quite as much quality as Spain."

‘Spirit and character’
Meanwhile, the man whom Luis Aragonés spent all week praising, Johan Elmander, insists the agonising loss is no more than a marker that their opponents have evolved massively since qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008™. He is also from the camp that says this match and result are already irrelevant as attentions turn to the Group D finale against Russia. "By Sunday this is history and by the morning I’ll have forgotten all about it," said the Toulouse FC forward. "Spain are a little more hard-nosed than when we played them in our qualifier in Stockholm [which Sweden won 2-0] but I don’t run around the pitch thinking about them. I’ll admit they were the better side over the 90 minutes but we’d earned our draw. Now we just have to go out and prove the spirit and character we have by winning the last match."