The Russian national soccer team is as from yesterday officially in a post-Guss Hiddink trauma syndrome, although it might not know it yet. If Hiddink didn't do it, who can? Who can make this group of players perform like those boys who ate the grass in the Summer of 2008, or who can make the perfect balance between the Russia of EURO-2008 and post-Maribor 2009? A name appears... two actually...

Guus Hiddink took Russia to a pinnacle the team had not reached for many years, gaining third place in the UEFA 2008 after stunning performances, principally against Holland. Everything led us to believe that the team would build on this success and go further.    

The meeting on Thursday between the new President of the Russian Football Union Sergei Fursenko and the Manager of Russia's national soccer team Guus Hiddink ended with a decision for the Dutchman to stay in charge of the team he led to the bronze medal in EURO 2008 for a further two years.

The speculation is over. Guus Hiddink stays as Chief Coach of the Russian national soccer team for a further two years after his contract runs out in June, giving him the chance to lead Russia to the UEFA finals in 2012 in Poland-Ukraine. Guss Hiddink arrived in charge of Russia in 2006 and led the team through a brilliant qualifying phase to the finals of the UEFA Euro 2008 in Austria-Switzerland, finishing in equal third place with Turkey.