MOSCOW - Russia coach Guus Hiddink has called on his players to demonstrate their "best qualities" when they face England in Wednesday's crunch Euro 2008 qualifier in Moscow.
If Russia lose the Group E encounter at the Luzhniki Stadium they will be eliminated although a draw would keep alive hopes of qualifying for next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland.
And Hiddink is well aware of the difficult task that awaits his side against an England team that have won their last five qualifiers by the same 3-0 scoreline.
"We are playing a very serious match against very serious opposition," Hiddink told a press conference on Monday.
"England have really proved themselves in the last few games."
Hiddink insists Russia must raise their game to combat Steve McClaren's side.
"We must control the game for the whole 90 minutes and to achieve that we need to find the balance between defence and attack," the Dutchman added.
"In short, we need to demonstrate all our best qualities and also hope that England won't play as well as in their recent games.
"I want my young players to play the kind of attacking football that compliments their spirit."
Hiddink played down the significance of losing right-sided midfield pair Vladimir Bystrov and Ivan Saenko to injury.
"We'll bring in other players and we'll be forced to change our set-up a little, but I am not going to make a big deal of losing Bystrov and Saenko," Hiddink said.
"I think we'll manage to put together a team even if it means we have to change the style of play a little."
Hiddink has looked to the future of Russian football since taking charge of the national team last year, frequently putting his faith in youth ahead of experience.
Veteran players such as Fulham's Aleksei Smertin, Spartak Moscow's Yegor Titov and Saturn Moscow's Dmitri Loskov have not been part of Hiddink's plans, and he maintains that he is not about to call on any of the old guard now.
"I have spoken with a few of the older players, who told me: 'boss, you are starting a new era'.
"My principle is to bring into the national team those players who are ready to give the team 100%, and it is my decision not to bring in the older generation."
Meanwhile, Hiddink expressed his delight at agreeing a new deal with the Russian FA that will keep in him charge until the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
"It's great that the RFS (Russian Football Union) and me have decided to continue working together and agreed a new contract," he said.
"In my opinion it is an important strategic step that proves that the RFS are not only thinking about today.
"Regarding the players, I'm not sure of their response to this news, but so far I haven't heard any complaints."
