THERE IS little doubt but that Euro 2008 has thrown up two "Russian" stars, one new and the other all too familiar and not even Russian.

Between them, attacking genius Andrei Arshavin and Dutch coach Guus Hiddink may hold the key to tonight's fascinating semi-final clash with Spain in Vienna.

Arshavin has been the revelation of the tournament and if the Spaniards afford him the sort of space provided by the Dutch in last Saturday night's 3-1 triumph, then the Russian success story may not end here.

However, all the indications from Spain's difficult, penalty shoot-out win over Italy on Sunday suggest the Spanish will keep a close eye out for Arshavin.

Against Italy, Spanish coach Luis Aragonés proved himself to be as inspired by "real-politik" as any Italian coach and he is likely to take a similarly cautious attitude tonight, with defensive midfielder Marcos Senna perhaps being called on to shadow Arshavin.

Aragonés and his men will certainly have their work cut out limiting Arshavin's influence, but they may face an even harder task in neutralising coach Hiddink.

When he met the world's press yesterday in Vienna, the Dutchman was simply oozing with confidence: "To see all these people here makes me feel very proud . . . Russian football is coming alive."

Hiddink went on to repeat a concept he has expressed at just about every opportunity in these championships. Namely that it is more important for Russian football to make the most of this extraordinary moment, in terms of organisation and infrastructural development, than it is for his side to win the tournament.

In other words, if you care to believe him, old Guus is saying his boys have done well to have got so far, but that anything else will be merely a bonus. Or is he?

It could well be that the old fox wants to send some very wrong messages to the Spanish camp, because, just a few minutes later, he adds: "This is the big moment for this country to develop itself, but we cannot go into this game just thinking to ourselves that already we've done more than enough.

"In today's football, you've got to defend well, but as soon as possible you move into attack. That's what I think football is about and that's what people want to see."

In other words, Spain, watch out, maybe Russia have not finished just yet. Russian media reports yesterday suggested such is the sense of achievement generated by Hiddink's team that the Dutchman will be offered Russian citizenship.

Hiddink yesterday expressed his "pride" at such reports, but refused to be distracted. With a host of VIPs, including former Russian President Vladimir Putin, due to fly in for this one, he does not want to disappoint: "We did not start this tournament well because it was a first step for us as tournament players, but we've made a lot of progress since then. We made a lot of presents to the Spanish team in that first game."

The sensation is that our Guus is really looking forward to getting a second crack at the Spanish. On the team selection front, he was giving nothing away, but with one first-team player, central defender Denis Kolodin suspended, he is likely to bring in Zenit playmaker Roman Shirokov alongside Sergei Ignashevich.

All of the key elements in this effective Russian team - full backs Aleksandr Anyukov and Yuri Zhirkov, the midfield backbone of Igor Semshov and Sergei Semak, the strike power of centre forward Roman Pavlyuchenko and above all the craft and guile of Arshavin will be in place.

Aragonés, too, is likely to field more-or-less the same side that started against Italy, resisting pressure to start Cesc Fabregas.

Hiddink, of course, has been here before. He took Holland in 1998 and South Korea in 2002 to World Cup semi-finals.

Listening to him last night, though, one suspects he feels he can go one better than both those sides which, of course, failed to make the final. "The big challenge is for Russian football to re-establish itself and regain its standing in European football."

One suspects, thanks to Hiddink, Russian football has already done just that.

RUSSIA (Probable, 4-4-2): 1 Igor Akinfeyev, 22 Alexander Anyukov, 18 Yuri Zhirkov, 4 Sergei Ignashevich, 18 Yuri Zhirkov, 11 Sergei Semak, 15 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, 17 Konstantin Zyryanov, 20 Igor Semshov, 10 Andrei Arshavin, 19 Roman Pavlyuchenko.

SPAIN (Probable, 4-1-3-2): 1 Iker Casillas, 15 Sergio Ramos, 5 Carles Puyol, 4 Carlos Marchena, 11 Joan Capdevila, 19 Marcos Senna, 6 Andres Iniesta, 8 Xavi, 21 David Silva, 7 David Villa, 9 Fernando Torres.

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