RUSSIA’S FAREWELL TO GUUS HIDDINK IN BUDAPEST

Wednesday evening in Budapest, Guus Hiddink's long farewell as Russia manager takes a giant step forward as his forces face Hungary in a friendly.


Since the disastrous loss to Slovenia in Maribor past November, there have considerable changes within the Russian football front. Shortly after it was announced Mr. Hiddink's contract would not be renewed, newly appointed Russian Football Union president Sergey Fursenko wasted no time, saying, "our top priority is to boost the development of youth football". Heading forward into Euro 2012 it is clear that the RFU is rightfully taking an approach of maximizing sporting returns through the building of strong foundation, to which peak performance will be achieved within a two-to-three quadrennial term.

Long-term vision aside, there remains many unanswered questions going forward, chiefly who precisely will be handed the enormous ask of building the large infrastructure. Rumours run wild of the high profile position with luminaries such Valeriy Gazzaev, Yuriy Semin and Oleg Romantsev mentioned, along with Rubin Kazan mastermind Kurban Berdyev. With the Euro 2012 qualification set to begin in only five months, a decision is expected shortly to ensure a seamless transition to the new administration.

Echoing Roman Pavlyuchenko's comments that Wednesday's match is a "farewell ceremony of Guus", Russia needs to be in top form or the celebration will turn to be an unjust ending to Mr. Hiddink’s extraordinary tenure in-charge. Hungary is a very capable side that saw a late stumble with home and away losses to Portugal cost them a playoff bid for the World Cup. Despite those recent failings Hungary has a number of noteworthy attacking talents, including Zenit Saint Petersburg's Szabolcs Huszti and Tamás Hajnal of Borussia Dortmund and Russia will need to be pay great heed to their opposition to ensure the "farewell ceremony" is the start to the move upwards.

PAVLYUCHENKO: WE ARE AT HIDDINK’S FAREWELL

Yesterday the Russian football national team got together for the first time after Maribor to prepare for the friendly against Hungary. The forward of Tottenham Roman Pavlyuchenko who scored five goals in the last three matches arrived in high spirits.


"Everything changes very quickly," said the forward. "When you enter the field and more over when you score the things get sorted out fast."

"The most important thing is that I came to myself and calmed down. When I was talking to you two weeks ago my head was stuffed with gloomy things but now it has cleared up because for a footballer play is the main occupation and I am doing exactly the right thing."

"It is funny that now people expect me to score twice every match but actually I did not even have a second chance in the last game. But I am happy that we won and I contributed to this success."

"Though I had to hurt Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and we were flying to Moscow together after the match. But actually we did not have a lot of time for talking for we flew by night and slept almost all of it."

"It is very remarkable when people rely on you. You perceive everything differently when you train as a first team player."

"I try not to think about my future in the team, at the moment it is senseless and unprofessional. We must finish the season where we have high and real tasks: win the England Cup and get into the top Four in the Premier League in order to get a ticket to the Champions League. I will start thinking about my perspectives only in June."

"My teammates always treated me warmly – always supported and even showed surprise with my absence in the team. And at the moment everybody congratulates me."

"I think my good performance now is due partly to my good form and partly to the emotions of a person entering the field after a long time."

"Having arrived in Moscow I do have a feeling that we are at a farewell ceremony of Guus. I do not know whether we play in May-June or whether Hiddink still stays with the team but the feeling remains."

"It is not for nothing that he gathered his most well-tried fighters. That is why a bit of sadness mixes with the happiness of meeting the teammates. But I am sure that even after Hiddink leaves we will somehow keep in contact with him."

"What we will need to keep after Guus is this friendly team as it is now. We must stay a united fist and than I am sure we will win a lot."