Interesting comment on the BBC:

"Russia through to the semi-final where they will face Italy or Spain. And on the basis of the first three quarter-finals, you wouldn't bet against Italy would you? Like Holland and Croatia, Spain won all three group games. Like Holland, Croatia and Portugal, Spain rested a host of players for their final group game"

It's anyone's tournament now...

The BBC are gutted, no way did they want the Ruskies to win, or Torkee come to think of it

I'd love to see the commies beat the goose stepping hun, me

How good was that archie bloke up front! Compare and contrast with the 'loadsamoney' manc legend! Awesome performance. Germans will still win mindst. Ballack is another who made the manc legend look poor value.

Russia should have had the game sewn up before the 90 minutes were up, it is a shame that him who scored their first goal needs 4 or 5 chances before he gets one on target. I agree Mr Heat that little Archie fella looked superb no doubt all of the big, rich European teams will now be getting their cheque books ready for a bidding war

Average age of the squad about 23 - would be worthy winners of the competition. Italy, Germany final still most likely though for me.

Aye shame they didn't win in the 90, cost me £40

Yeah, I also had money on the Russians but get nowt because they didn't quite do it in the 90mins

I'm still glad they won though, they deserved it. They are a great team to watch, loads of pace and endeavour, with incisive runs from all over the pitch - this is how football should be played

Their weakness is their inability to defend crosses and it nearly cost them tonight. If they get to the final along with the Germans the Hun will exploit this flaw at every opportunity.

Well they wouldn't would they - Helen Chamberlain works for the enemy.

Getting back to the subject, the Russians for me were bloody marvellous. They put joy back into a sport teams like Italy and France (and from a more parochial point of view, practically the whole of the premiership) have been strangling.

I hope they win, or if they don't, then a team that plays the same way they do.

P.S. someone in the pub tonight ventured to suggest England would have done well against any of these teams. Then someone pointed out that if England had been in the tournament it would have meant McLaren was still in charge.



I'm not saying Capello's team would have done any better mind.