Russia's Says it ready for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifier

It's only a little over two years since Russia beat Holland in the Euro 2008 quarter-final. It was the best non-Spanish performance of the tournament, and has arguably been the best performance by any international side other than Spain in the past five years. As fans celebrated in the streets of Moscow it seemed the match could be an epoch-defining moment, when Russian football, at last, came of age. CSKA and Zenit St Petersburg had won the Uefa Cup, the national side had shown itself capable of the sort of rapid pass-and-move football for which Russian teams were noted in the late 1940s, and Vladimir Putin was speaking of "a golden age of Russian sport".

Since then, though, Russia have failed to qualify for a World Cup and, having been defeated in their last qualifier at home by Slovakia, there is a serious possibility that they may not qualify for Euro 2012. The away double-header against the Republic of Ireland and FYR Macedonia always looked tricky but now appears vital. "Both matches will be very difficult but we are ready for tough battles," said Dick Advocaat, who replaced Guus Hiddink as the national coach after the World Cup qualifying campaign. "From now on every match will be a decisive battle for us. We lost to Slovakia at home, now we have no other choice but to win in away matches."

The ghosts of that World Cup campaign continue to haunt Russia. They played well enough in the group games, and finished as runners-up after two narrow defeats by Germany, setting up a play-off against Slovenia. It was as they swept into a 2-0 lead in the first leg, though, that expectation mutated into complacency. Nejc Pecnik nicked a late goal for Slovenia and when Zlatko Dedic then scored the only goal of the second leg in Maribor, Russia were out on away goals.

While they hadn't played well, Russia had been unlucky in that second game, having Alexander Kerzhakov sent off for an innocuous challenge on the Slovenia goalkeeper, Samir Handanovic. Other issues, however, stood out. First there was the Sergei Semak factor – both Russia goals were scored when he was on the pitch; both Slovenia ones when he wasn't. His form has been enough to earn a move to Zenit St Petersburg from Rubin Kazan – and he should this season complete a hat-trick of league titles – but at 34 his international career appears over and it's unclear whether Russia have found a replacement at the back of the midfield.

The explanation that has dominated Russian media coverage of the national team since, though, has suggested that a number of players went drinking in the days before the game. The reports have never been confirmed but they add to a general sense of players – particularly those who have moved to western Europe – getting above themselves, neglecting the industriousness and professionalism that underlay their performances in Euro 2008.

Of course every nation, after a couple of poor results, tends to question how much wealthy footballers really care. But the feeling that the players are moving away from their roots is probably more acute in Russia, which had never previously had to deal with large numbers of their players moving abroad, than elsewhere. Whether based in reality or not, the doubts have led to an atmosphere of mutual suspicion between squad and press that is only adding to tensions. Hiddink tended to be fairly open but Advocaat has reduced media activities to a minimum and shifted the players from their former base in the Moscow Marriott to the Radisson, which lacks the communal areas where players and journalists used to mix. Andrey Arshavin, in particular, has come in for criticism, with many suggesting he lacks the leadership qualities necessary in a captain.

Advocaat insists that not much is wrong with the team. "In the match against Slovakia we were the better side and it was Russia who deserved the win," he said. "We should continue playing our style in the upcoming matches, controlling play and forcing our opponents to adjust to our style, not vice versa. That's the key to success in the upcoming matches."

He has recalled Kerzhakov, who is in a run of astonishing form and has scored eight goals (one a penalty) in his last four club matches, including a hat-trick away at Anderlecht in the Europa League. There has been much excited talk about him replacing Pavel Pogrebnyak (although he has five in five for a struggling Stuttgart this season) and lining up with Arshavin, and so reprising a partnership that was once devastating for Zenit.

With Advocaat seemingly committed to 4-3-3, though, they would not be a partnership in the traditional sense. It was not uncommon for them to operate as part of a three at Zenit but if that is to happen there is need for natural width on the right. At Zenit that used to be provided by Vladimir Bystrov, who is now back in form after his traumatic return to St Petersburg. (He was seen as having betrayed Zenit by joining Spartak, and then as having betrayed Spartak by rejoining Zenit, meaning he was hated by two sets of fans who usually hate each other.) He seems likely to come in on the right ahead of Alan Dzagoev, who is more comfortable in a central attacking midfield role that doesn't exist in Advocaat's formation. That is why many in Russia would prefer to see a switch to 4-2-3-1, with Arshavin, Dzagoev and Bystrov arrayed behind a lone striker.

The real weakness – leaving aside the potential for comic slip-ups always presented by the selection of one or both of the Berezutsky twins (although with Denis Kolodin injured, there are few options alongside Sergei Ignashevich) – is the midfield. Roman Shirokov will presumably again be flanked by Konstantin Zyryanov and Igor Semshov, but while all are fine ball players, none has the energy or aggression of Semak. CSKA's Pavel Mamayev has been called up in place of Dmitri Torbinsky, who is short of match fitness, but it would be a major surprise were he to start.

Four years ago Hiddink's Russia, after a nervy start to qualifying, went to Skopje with a side that was heavy on ball-players and short on ball-winners and played superbly to win 2-0, raising self-belief for what followed. This double-header in Dublin and Skopje has taken on a similar aura of significance.