SWEDEN'S MAIN striker, Zlaten Ibrahimovic, is expected to start this evening's vital final group game against Russia despite an ongoing knee problem.
The Swedes, who need a draw to set up a quarter-final meeting with the Netherlands, are likely to make just one change to the side that lost narrowly to Spain with Niclas Alexadersson set to return at full back after recovering a thigh strain.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink is disappointed with his squad's effort in training. "I'm not their enemy," he said yesterday, "but demanding more of them has been one of my thoughts. A lot of people and players can do a little bit more than they think sometimes."
Hiddink has expressed satisfaction with the improvement shown by his side after the opening game defeat by Spain and feels they proved their critics wrong in the win over Greece.
"Before our match against Greece," he said, "I read a lot about how we were capable of playing good flowing football, but that we were innocent and naive," he said.
"Against the Greeks I saw us getting stuck and taking them on physically. We like to play attacking football. But that is not a possibility unless we start from a solid base, of taking the side on physically, and respecting the basics."
Midfielders Yuri Zhirkov and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov are expected to be available for selection. Playmaker Andrei Arshavin, meanwhile, is available for the first time at the tournament after serving a two-match ban.
In the night's other game Spain coach Luis Aragones will name almost an entire new side to face Greece to the one that was unchanged for the victories over Russia and Sweden.
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel is determined not to see his
side exit with a whimper. However, striker Fanis Gekas will be missing after suffering a broken cheekbone against Russia, while Giourkas Seitaridis, Vassilis Torosidis and Giorgos Karagounis are injured.
- Emmet Malone
