'Bilyaletdinho' to rend England asunder

Midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov feels Russia have the ability to "tear [England] apart in Moscow" as he looks to cement a glowing reputation tonight.

Shattering defeat
The 22-year-old was left shell-shocked after Russia lost 3-0 at Wembley in a crucial qualifier on 12 September and slip five points behind Steve McClaren's side to third place in Group E. However, with a game in hand on England and a huge determination to make up for the disappointment in London last month, the FC Lokomotiv Moskva captain knows all is not lost.

'I agree'
"Now the emotions have died down I can admit we deserved to lose," he said. "In every challenge you could feel how good the English were. They play the football they like to play and that's good for them, but even during the match we felt we could do it. After the game we wondered how it could have happened. We felt we had played well but were routed 3-0. It was quiet in the dressing room, and then someone shouted: 'We will tear them apart in Moscow.' I agree."

Content over style
If Russia are to rend England asunder, the man nicknamed 'Bilyaletdinho' for his Brazilian-style ball skills will be a key figure. However, if fans are expecting pretty football, Russia might disappoint at the Luzhniki Stadium. "Matches like this are just about the only ones where you can say the result is more valuable than the content," he said. "People follow teams like Arsenal [FC] or [FC] Barcelona because they get results with style, but in a situation like this you must forget about that."

Cooler heads
Bilyaletdinov feels that Russia have made great strides under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, especially in psychological terms. "Before him, I was always very nervous when going on the pitch to play for the national team," he admitted. "Hiddink improved the atmosphere. He doesn't pressure the players. Now I just take to the pitch and play with confidence."

'I love it'
Such a cool-headed attitude can only serve them well in games like tonight's. While many will be hoping that England freeze on the artificial surface at the Luzhniki Stadium, Bilyaletdinov is calm and determined to succeed. "I love it when it's tense, when everyone is singing the anthem," he said. "This is a challenge. You have to be a bit excited but not scared. If you are weak, it will all fall apart – you'll lose confidence and then you make mistakes."