Intro:
Russia trained and held a press conference in Warsaw on Friday ahead of Saturday's crucial UEFA European Championship meeting with Greece.
Russia coach Dick Advocaat said his team are confident and wil lgo for the win., whilst Alan Dzagoev called for the fans to be "calm".
Script:
Euro 2012 quarter-final places will be at stake when Russia face Greece at the National Stadium in Warsaw on Saturday.
Currently top of Group A after a win over the Czech Republic and a draw with Poland, Russia only need to avoid defeat to secure a place in the last eight.
However, Russia coach Dick Advocaat insists his side will go for a win.
SOUNDBITE: (Dutch) Dick Advocaat, Russia manager:
"Yes, I think that whenever you go to play a game you must win, and you want to win, and then you can say who was best afterwards. But you know, we are very confident in ourselves and I'm sure the Greece coach (Fernando Santos) will say the same thing."
Attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev has been a revelation for Russia in this tournament, scoring three goals in two games.
The attacker, who celebrates his 22nd birthday on Sunday, has called on Russia's fans to be more "calm" . The team were hit with a suspended six-point penalty for Euro 2016 after their supporters' behaviour earlier in the tournament.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Alan Dzagoev, Russia midfielder:
"I don't know. Maybe they should be more calm. We don't need to lose six points in the next qualification (for the 2016 UEFA European Championship). So we don't want anything bad for our national team."
Russia have beaten Greece in the last two Euros, although Greece still went on to win the tournament in 2004.
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Rank | Team | W/D/L | Pts |
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Cities & Stadiums
The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments
Year | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Spain | Germany | Russia / Turkey |
2004 | Greece | Portugal | Netherlands / Czech Republic |
2000 | France | Italy | Netherlands / Portugal |
1996 | Germany | Czech Republic | France / England |
1992 | Denmark | Germany | Netherlands / Sweden |
1988 | Netherlands | Soviet Union | Italy / West Germany |
1984 | France | Spain | Denmark / Portugal |
1980 | West Germany | Belgium | Czechoslovakia |
1976 | Czechoslovakia | West Germany | Netherlands |
1972 | West Germany | Soviet Union | Belgium |
1968 | Italy | Yugoslavia | England |
1964 | Spain | Soviet Union | Hungary |
1960 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Czechoslovakia |