Russia striker Alexander Kerzhakov was a surprise omission when coach Guus Hiddink unveiled his 25-man provisional squad for Euro 2008 today.

Kerzhakov has struggled to regain his form since joining Dynamo Moscow from Sevilla in February.
   
"There are many players who could have been on this list, but we always look for the balance when we make the selection," Hiddink told reporters when asked about Kerzhakov's absence.

The Dutchman also raised a few eyebrows by calling up 32-year-old midfielder Sergei Semak for the first time since he took over the Russia post in July 2006.
   
Unlike Kerzhakov, Semak has been in sparkling form this season, helping unfancied Rubin Kazan to the top of the Russian premier league.
   
Hiddink also included three newcomers, Lokomotiv Moscow defender Renat Yanbayev and midfielders Oleg Ivanov of Krylya Sovietov Samara and Alexander Pavlenko of Spartak Moscow in the 25-man panel, which will be trimmed to 23 by May 28th.
   
Russia are in Group D with Greece, Spain and Sweden at the championship being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.
   
Hiddink said reaching the finals was itself a "big achievement for Russian football".
   
"We were not the favourites to reach Euro 2008 playing in a (qualifying) group with Croatia and England, but we did it," he said.
   
"Now, we'll try to do the same. We know we're not the big favourites, nevertheless our aim is to make the second round."
   
Russia squad:
   
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg), Vladimir Gabulov (Amkar Perm)
   
Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Alexei Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Vasily Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Alexander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Denis Kolodin (Dynamo Moscow), Renat Yanbayev (Lokomotiv Moscow)
   
Midfielders: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), Igor Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitry Torbinsky (Lokomotiv Moscow), Vladimir Bystrov (Spartak Moscow), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergei Semak (Rubin Kazan), Alexander Pavlenko (Spartak Moscow), Oleg Ivanov (Krylya Sovietov Samara)
   
Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Spartak Moscow), Dmitry Sychev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Roman Adamov (FK Moscow), Ivan Saenko (Nuremberg).