Hosts and Russia share the spoils during a raw encounter in Warsaw

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Andrei Arshavin was again pulling the strings for Russia.SNS Group

This tournament has already seen some mammoth encounters: France and England, Italy and Spain and Germany and Portugal.

To their supporters Russia and Poland promised to be the biggest game of the tournament yet.

After some controversial and disturbing scenes prior to kick off in the Polish capital of Warsaw, it also promised to be a raw and bitter affair.

Russia, who are unbeaten in fifteen matches and haven only conceded three goals, put out an unchanged team, the same side that dismantled the Czechs on the opening game of the tournament in an inspired 4-1 victory.

Both teams shared the possession in the opening stages of the first half. Poland had the better opportunities however, with the Poland centre-half Boenisch forcing a fantastic save from Igor Malafeev after a headed effort from a set piece. The Poles also had the ball in the net, however the linesman correctly flagged it offside. Borussia Dortmund’s star striker Robert Lewandowski, currently being courted by Manchester United, often threatened the Russian goal seeing a fantastic volleyed effort fly just wide.

It was Russia who took the lead in the closing stages of the first half and it was the Russian golden boy again, Alan Dzagoev, who was there to head in his third goal of the tournament after an Arshavin free kick.

The Russians went into the break with the lead. The Poles pressed and stopped the Russians playing the attractive, free-flowing football that they showed during the opening game. Poland were rewarded for their pressing and work ethic on the hour mark with a wonder goal after a fantastic strike from Blaszczykowski.

The game could have gone either way, with both teams playing good football and making chances. The game ended in a draw and it was a point that both teams will be relative happy with after an entertaining and much-anticipated affair.

The stand out player of the game was between Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin and CSKA Moscow’s wiz-kid Alan Dzagoev. The latter again had a major influence in the game, not only was his goal crucial for the Russians, he regularly terrorised the Polish defence whilst making numerous opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Arshavin was another standout for Advocaat’s men. The Arsenal man made a number of opportunities for his strikers, playing cute passes and defence penetrating through balls.

Poland did very well to limit the Russian flair that we enjoyed on Friday night, and most would say that the Poles deserved their point. With the strong midfield flooding the centre of the pitch the Russians did not enjoy the same space and freedom that they had against Czech Republic.

The game leaves Group A wide open with all teams mathematically still in contention to qualify for the knockout stages. Russia next face a Greek team who haven't really got started on Saturday night. Only a very brave individual would bet against the Russians not making the knockout stages of the tournament.

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