MOSCOW - Russia manager Guus Hiddink insists his side will gain "no real advantage" from playing on an artificial pitch in Wednesday's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier with England.
Steve McClaren's side can book their place in Austria and Switzerland with a victory at the Luzhniki Stadium but there are concerns as to how they will adapt to the synthetic surface on which UEFA have agreed the match will take place.
The England players practised on the surface at the Thomas Holford Catholic College in Altrincham on Monday but Hiddink believes his side will in no way hold the upper hand.
"The English team are preparing for the game on an artificial pitch and therefore there will be no real advantage for us," Hiddink told Russian TV channel RTR-Sport.
Hiddink also expressed his approval at the decision to play the game at the Luzhniki Stadium.
As rain, sleet and snow fell on the Russian capital over the weekend, the Dutchman says it would have been wrong to have played on natural grass in such conditions, and indicated that the 84,000-capacity Luzhniki is also the best venue for such a big game.
"There has been a lot of talk about this in the build up to the game," he said.
"Naturally the psychological aspect [of playing at the Luzhniki] gives us a huge advantage, and the fans will create a fiery atmosphere. It will be difficult for England.
"I consider it the correct decision, and a lot of people will come to the game. Taking into account the poor weather it would have been the wrong decision to play the game on natural grass."
The Russian team was not in action at the weekend, and Hiddink chose not to travel to London to see Wednesday's opposition in action against Estonia.
"I watched England's game with Estonia on TV and didn't see anything new. We know England and we know how they play.
"We need to pay attention to their leading players, particularly the strikers (Michael) Owen and (Wayne) Rooney. They warrant very close surveillance.
"Also the combination of (Steven) Gerrard and (Gareth) Barry is very good to watch. It may not be the star-studded midfield of Gerrard and (Frank) Lampard, but it is very effective and helps the team.
"We need to be realistic - the English are a level higher but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't battle.
"But our team should also concentrate on themselves and their own game and not think too much about the opposition."
Nurnberg midfielder Ivan Saenko has been ruled out with a leg injury so Hiddink has now called upon uncapped Khimki midfielder Roman Shirokov as cover.
