How they qualified

Finished a point ahead of Portugal at the top of Group F having survived a brief attack of the vapours when losing to the runners-up in Lisbon and Northern Ireland in Belfast.

World Cup high

Fourth place as the USSR in 1966, having been defeated 2-1 by West Germany in the semi-final at Goodison Park but haven’t made it out of the group stages in two appearances as Mother Russia following the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

World Cup low

Hopeless in 2002, they flattered to deceive with victory over Tunisia before Japan and Belgium shattered the illusion and showed them up as powder-puff and predictable.

Familiar faces

Old Stone Face in the dugout but none on the field– former Tottenham enigma Roman Pavlyuchenko has retired from international football while his erstwhile neighbour and former national team captain, Andrei Arshavin, has become as much a non-person to Fabio Capello as he was to the Arsenal crowd for the past two years.

The manager

Imperious pot-hunter at AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus, Capello went native in his four opulent years with England, alternating exasperation and disgust with his charges, reduced to playing simplistically and timidly.

How in danger is he?

Paid £7.8 million a year and in negotiations to extend his contract to 2018. 1/10

Most likely to light up Brazil

Alan Dzagoev briefly illuminated Euro 2012 with his clever running, good feet and fine finishing. Plays on the right of midfield for Capello where his workaholism and pace are used in the manager’s typically efficient system.

Most likely to be sent home in disgrace

No one. This is a strict regime and the players on national duty are not rebellious. The only hope for discord is if Capello tries on his Stuart Pearce-baiting style argy bargy with one of his band of assistants.

Title odds

66-1

The stereotype is …

Joyless automatons boring the opposition to death through relentless pressing until striker with the build, complexion and naked disappointment of Rodney Trotter nicks one.

The reality is ...

Organised, punishingly-fit and tactically-disciplined with a great goalkeeper in Igor Akinfeev and a centre-forward in Aleksandr Kerzhakov with the balance, control and shooting power to hurt most teams.

What they’re known for?

Pussy Riot 19 per cent

Owning London 32 per cent

Polonium 6 per cent

Three centuries of astonishing literature 43 per cent

How Brazilian are they?

Have Alan Brazilian national levels of alcohol consumption but little in the way of the carnival spirit on the field.

How Google translates the national anthem

Ancestor-given wisdom of our people! Be glorious, our country, our pride!

Duration

Three minutes and 34sec to allow graduates of Trinity College, Cambridge, to substitute the new words for the “Party of Lenin!” version.

How to dress like their fans

Oligarch chic – £500,000 watches, no ties, pale blue shirts, stubble and the keys to your dreadnought-size yacht jingling in your bodyguard’s trousers.

Commentator's go-to stat

Russia is the largest country in the world and Capello the highest-paid manager.