Questions asked as ageing Russia run out of legs

Russia woke yesterday with a sense of disbelief.

After beating the Czech Republic 4-1 in their first game, the sense had been of a side finding form at the right time, of a settled side, barely changed from the one that reached the semi-final four years ago, playing with fluency, confidence and cutting edge.

But having taken the lead against Poland in their second game, Russia failed to finish them off and they paid the price against Greece in their third game, dominating the ball yet rarely looking as though they had the hardness to close the game out.