RUSSIA playmaker Andrei Arshavin has thanked Guus Hiddink for his chance at Euro 2008 – and he wants to repay him by sending the Dutchman into a first major final as an international coach.
Arshavin was suspended for the first two games of the tournament after needlessly getting sent off in the last qualifier, but Hiddink kept him in his squad despite being upset at the 27-year-old.
He has scored against Sweden and Holland and tonigh
t faces Spain in the semi-finals at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium.
"I'm happy Guus Hiddink brought me here despite the ban and let me become a part of the tournament," said Arshavin.
"I came here hoping I'd get a chance to play at such a big tournament. I've never been to an event like this before.
"We had some very tough training sessions and it was difficult for me to be training a lot knowing I wouldn't be playing. It was an unusual feeling."
His performances have put top clubs in Europe on alert, and Zenit St Petersburg are braced for his departure this summer. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is an admirer of Arshavin but a move to Barcelona would be the player's dream destination.
"I have supported Barcelona all my life," said Arshavin. "Barcelona are my dream. I never thought I would have a genuine chance to play for the club. Let's see how the situation unfolds."
Arshavin was suspended for the game against Spain at the start of the tournament when Russia were defeated 4-1, but they have responded with three wins on the bounce.
Hiddink now may be granted Russian citizenship but the Dutchman is refusing to forget how close it was to Steve McClaren being at the finals instead of him.
It was seven months ago that England were edged out by a point when Croatia won at Wembley, with Russia given a reprieve after they looked to have thrown away qualification with defeat in Israel the previous Saturday.
Rather than Hiddink's team lighting up this tournament, it could have been McClaren's men competing in their place.
Now Russia president Dmitri Medvedev looks set to give Hiddink honorary citizenship for reaching the semi-finals, just as South Korea did when he took them to the same stage of the World Cup in 2002. But Hiddink said: "I'm realistic and won't forget the past.
"Everything is now highlighting us and there is talk about citizenship but I don't forget the tough time we had.
"We played well against England at home but also had a difficult game away against Israel, I'm well aware of that.
"I don't get carried away by today's success. It shows you that football is decided on details."
Meanwhile, Spain's Sergio Ramos believes his team will seize their "unique opportunity" and claim a place in the final.
Luis Aragones' side are in a buoyant mood having knocked out world champions Italy on Sunday to maintain their unbeaten run in the finals.
And the 22-year-old Real Madrid defender is confident the Spaniards will take their chance against in-form Russia.
"We are convinced that can reach the final," Ramos said.
"This is a unique opportunity and we are two games away from doing something that has not been achieved by the national team for a long time.
"We need to be more united than ever and think about the group in order to progress."
Spain won the European Championships back in 1964 but have struggled in major tournaments ever since.
That has not been in the case in Austria and Switzerland, however, where Spain cruised in the group stages before holding their nerves against the Italians to win 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out.
La Seleccion must now get the job done and it will be no easy task, according to Ramos.
He was very impressed by Russia's 3-1 triumph over Holland after extra-time and believes his team will make a huge mistake to take the Russians lightly.
"Russia have surprised all of us and they are playing some very interesting football," he said.
"It should be an open game and we just hope the result will go in our way."
Ramos has the challenging task of stopping the likes of red-hot attacker Arshavin.
"In the first game they were missing what I consider to be one of the best players in the tournament," Ramos added.
"We will have to stop them and make sure we take advantage of any counter-attacks we get."
