By Oleg Antonenko BBC Russian Service, Moscow

England v Russia
Wembley Stadium
Wednesday, 12 September
Kick-off: 2000 BST
Live coverage on BBC One, BBC Radio 5live & the BBC Sport website

"In Guus we trust"! Many remember the Australian fans' t-shirts from the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Now it is Russians who believe.

Hiddink has taught the young Russian team to throw aside pre-conceived conceptions of world ranking when they face opponents supposedly better than them.

606: DEBATE With four games left - three at home - England should be favourites to qualify MR

In Zagreb, Hiddink's squad played a tactically clever game, not allowing Croatia to fully dominate - and so taking a vital point.

So how big a threat are Russia to England's chances of qualifying for Euro 2008?

Probably the strongest aspect of Russia is their defence, with only one goal conceded in eight matches in Group E.

It is made up of CSKA Moscow team-mates, champions of the last two seasons and winners of the Uefa Cup in 2005.

Arsenal players may remember goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's tremendous display in last season's Champions League.

He is injured and will not feature in either game against England meaning the probable deputy is Vyacheslav Malofeev.

The 28-year-old Zenit goalkeeper was man of the match against Macedonia on Saturday when he was suddenly thrown into action by Hiddink after Vladimir Gabulov had been sent off.

His first action was to save the resulting penalty.

CSKA captain Sergey Ignashevich, 28, is the best and most experienced central defender in the squad and the heart of the Russian back line.

Every Russian supporter knows that a team with Ignashevich is very different to one without him.

The Berezutskiye twins, 25 are two other players from CSKA featuring in the national team's defence. Alexey is a left-sided defender who can play in the centre of defence and likes to attack.

Vassiliy Berezutskiy is a right-sided defender who is a good crosser of the ball.

The brothers' displays for CSKA this season are far from perfect, but Hiddink's magic makes the difference when both of them play for the national team.

Aleksandr Anyukov of Zenit St Petersburg could start. He is a versatile player who can occupy any position in the back four as well as in midfield.

Anyukov, 24, is strong in the tackle and likes to go forward.

However he had discipline problems in Zenit this season and St. Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat did not include him in the squad for several matches.

Denis Kolidin, 25, like Anyukov and Ignashevich is a tough defender but will probably start on the bench.

This is not as strong as the defence, but features some good players of European calibre.

Central midfileders Igor Semshov and Konstantin Zyrianov played together at Torpedo Moscow. But after the team was relegated Semshov went to Dynamo Moscow and Zyrianov to Zenit St. Petersburg.

Semshov, 29 is a player who can orchestrate the team on the pitch but he is moody and sometimes fail to deliver.

Zyrianov, also 29, has unexpectedly become one of the star players of Zenit straight after joining one of the richest Russian teams sponsored by the energy giant Gazprom.

He is good in defence and can be creative in attack - which he proved in the last game against Macedonia.

Hiddink might well play him at Wembley bearing in mind the footballer's Saturday display.

Diniyar Bilyatedinov of Lokomotiv Moscow is very skillful attacking left-sided player who is captain of his club at the age of 22.

The highly-talented former team mate of Scotland's Garry O'Connor is still considered the rising young star of Russian football, but the match against Macedonia was not his best.

Vladimir Bystrov's name comes from the Russian word meaning "fast" and he lives up to it.

The extremely dangerous left-winger likes to attack and create chances for the forwards.

Former Zenit player Bystrov, 23, fights for the ball and that is why he is one of the most-fouled players in the Russian league. He is a player Steve McClaren should not let slip under his radar.

The wealth of talent in Russia forwards provides Hiddink with his biggest selection headache.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov is one of the few Russian players who has played abroad.

Kerzhakov, 25, is known for his pace and goalscoring instincts.

Sevilla paid Zenit �3m for his services in December 2006 and he won the Uefa Cup with his new team.

Kerzhakov scores regularly despite the fact he appears mostly as substitute player both in the club and the national team .

Andrey Arshavin, 26, is captain of the Russian side and genuine team leader.

Playing in attack with Kerzhakov for Zenit they formed arguably the most dangerous attacking duo in Russian football of the last decade.

Arshavin (right) is a versatile player who can operate in several positions. He is a good passer of the ball with fantastic dribbling ability.

Roman Pavlyuchenko, 25, has been Spartak Moscow's top scorer every season since his arrival at the club in 2003. He has very good technique and goalscoring instinct.

Former Spartak and Marseille player Dmitriy Sychev, 23 is constantly hampered by injury. He can play as an attacking midfielder and off a target man. When in-form Sychev can both create and score goals. But recently he has been below par.

While thinking about the threats of the Russian squad, Steve McClaren's side should keep in mind that the most dangerous man will be off the pitch.

Hiddink is famous for his ability to read the game and makes changes.

Outplaying Hiddink would be the only way to outplay his team.