Russia coach: Guus Hiddink
The Dutchman took charge of the national team after leading Australia at the 2006 World Cup.
Hiddink, 61, previously guided Holland and South Korea to World Cup semi-finals, in 1998 and 2002 respectively, and Russia’s unexpected qualification for Euro 2008 – thanks to Croatia’s surprise win in England – maintained the “Lucky Guus” image.
Hiddink may stay until 2010, with the aim of steering Russia to the World Cup.
His impressive club coaching CV includes Fenerbahce, Valencia, Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven, with whom he won three Dutch league titles and the European Cup in 1988.
What would be a successful tournament for you and what would be a failure?
It would be a failure if we do not perform well. Russian club football is up and coming, six clubs will go into the UEFA Cup and Champions League next season, which is a tremendous success. If we are not composed, if we do not play well, if we do not play with pride, if we are not committed it is a failure. No one can guarantee that they can get to the next round. But if the team play well in the group games and
if they are very committed and disciplined tactically, then our chances are high. I do not want to see a team that underperforms, that is anxious, that draws back and plays defensively. We want to show that this Russian team can play and that people can be proud of us.
How do you view your group?
It is difficult but the whole tournament is very difficult and very attractive. Spain are the favourites. Sweden are very experienced and a very technical team. The Greeks have to defend their title. We have to surprise them all because we are relative newcomers.
Have you felt under pressure in Russia and how well have you settled in?
When you go to a different country you always have to adapt yourself to the new values and principles. In the beginning some people in Russia would say: “Why do we have a foreigner in charge of our national team? We can do it ourselves, we did it in the past.” We had the same reaction in Holland in the Sixties when a foreign coach took charge of the national team, although we had not achieved anything in world football. I have my own ideas and I like to co-operate with my colleagues, which I have been doing and enjoying despite the barriers. It is how you cope with people. After a few weeks I established a very good contact with those who opposed me in the beginning.
Does getting to the finals instead of England add to your self-esteem?
It was important for the team’s esteem, especially the way we played against them in the second half in Moscow [Russia came from behind to win 2-1]. People were enthusiastic about this victory but we are critical about ourselves because we like to see what can be improved. After the victory over England we lost to Israel in the final few minutes, which highlights our inconsistency.
Will Euro 2008 be the biggest challenge of your coaching career?
It is a new challenge. I had challenges with Holland in 1998, with Korea in 2002, with Australia in 2006. People were very demanding and we lived up to their expectations. Now with the revival of Russian football it is a challenge that gives me more energy. I am eager to see what we can do with the young guys.
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