Russia and Czech Republic will complete the opening day of Euro 2012 with a head-to-head fixture at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw this evening.
Russia will be hoping that they can take their 14-game unbeaten run into the clash in Poland, while the Czech Republic continue to sweat on the fitness of striker Milan Baros.
The former Liverpool frontman has been struggling with injury ahead of his side's opening Group A game and was forced to sit out of training yesterday on medical advice.
Despite worries of injury, the 30-year-old has a good chance of making Michal Bilek's final starting XI alongside Arsenal midfielder and Czech captain Tomas Rosicky.
Meanwhile, Russia manager Dick Advocaat has injury concerns of his own as goalkeeper Igo Akinfeev remains a doubt due to a recurring knee problem, which the 26-year-old has been forced to endure for much of the season with CSKA Moscow. The shot-stopper is expected to have a late fitness test today but Vyacheslav Malafeev is available to fill in for the keeper.
Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin will be hoping to cause a threat alongside Alan Dzagoev and Aleksandr Kerzhakov in what is expected to be a 4-3-3 formation. However, if Baros is declared fit for the Czechs, the Galatasaray forward is fully capable of causing problems for the opposition's defence.
The Czech Republic only narrowly qualified for the group phase of the European Championships, which will make the team that much more determined to get a result this evening.
Current form:
Russia: WDWDDW
Czech Republic: WWWDWL
Possible lineups:
Russia: Akinfeev; Anyukov, Igna'vich, Berezutskiy, Zhirkov; Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov; Dzagoev, Kerzhakov, Arshavin
Czech Republic: Cech; Selassie, Sivok, Kadlec, Rajtoral; Plasil, Jiracek; Rezek, Rosicky, Pilar; Baros
Sports Mole says: 2-1
Danielle Joynson
