In November 2012, a few months after taking the post as Russia coach, Fabio Capello was asked in an interview with Sport Express newspaper whether he would play like Greece in 2004 in order to win a major tournament.
"Of course! We will do whatever it takes to succeed. I would be happy to win all the games on penalties," the Italian answered.
People didn't really pay attention to that statement at the time, but it gradually became clear that Capello wasn't joking. Russia's style has changed completely compared to the attractive teams built by Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat. The Dutchmen were not always successful, but at least they were entertaining and gave players freedom to express themselves. Under Capello, improvisation seems to be outlawed and everyone must follow strict instructions. The Italian drains life out of the team, as England fans remember only too well.
The lineup against Belgium on Sunday in Rio proved the point precisely. There was still no place for Aleksandr Kerzhakov or Alan Dzagoev, the duo that came off the bench against South Korea and was responsible for scoring the equaliser. The finesse of Yuri Zhirkov on the left flank was sacrificed for the raw power of Maksim Kanunnikov, a young, inexperienced player who is usually a center-forward. That was probably aimed to help Dmitry Kombarov defend Dries Mertens, but the Belgian winger ran riot in the first half and caused all sorts of problems regardless.
Overall, the "Greek plan" seemed to be working for Capello for long spells. Solid central defenders Vasily Berezutskiy and Sergei Ignashevich managed to take Romelu Lukaku out of the game, just like Algeria did last week. Russia even had a couple of chances to score, the best of them falling to Aleksandr Kokorin in the dying moments of the first half after Denis Glushakov found him with a brilliant cross that caught the Belgian defence napping.
The problem with Kokorin, though, is that his conversion rate is poor. The biggest side he has ever scored against in his international career is Israel. Compared to Kerzhakov, the 23-year-old Dinamo Moscow striker lacks experience -- and it showed. He put the ball wide of the goal with Thibault Courtois frozen and at his mercy.
Russia never managed to come close to scoring again. Without Roman Shirokov, who is tragically absent from what could have been a huge tournament in which he could shine, they are largely clueless going forward. While Capello's troops tried to be disciplined in defence, they never looked like knowing what to do with the ball at their feet.
Having won the first game vs. Algeria, Belgium could easily afford to settle for a draw at the Maracana while Russia, with just one point from the South Korea match, really needed to win. As the game progressed, however, it was evident that Marc Wilmots, whose salary is 13 times lower than that of Capello, is the one who urged his team to try to find the winner. Russia just wanted to hang on to a goalless draw.
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Luck wasn't on their side either when right-back Aleksey Kozlov, who did a great job on Eden Hazard, was injured and replaced by Andrey Eschenko after 62 minutes. The Anzhi Makhachkala veteran was a constant liability as the Chelsea star became Belgium's main man in the final stages. His first mazy ran was blocked, but the second produced a brilliant assist for Divock Origi with just two minutes to go.
It was only then, after 90 minutes, that Capello finally threw Kerzhakov on in a desperate attempt to salvage a point. That looked like a very bad joke. The Italian coach had already lost the tactical battle, soundly beaten by a much less experienced rival.
Justice was done. It is simply inappropriate to play like Greece at the legendary Maracana stadium. Such tactics don't really suit the Russian mentality either. They were punished for playing against their natural style.
Now Russia must win their final group stage game versus Algeria, but the current team has repeatedly struggled against defensive-minded opponents. The most glaring example of such troubles occurred in Belfast, where Capello's team failed to shoot on target even once when losing to Northern Ireland in the qualifiers.
Will they be able to change their attitude completely? Will Capello finally allow Dzagoev and Kerzhakov to run the show? Those are the vital questions ahead of the final battle. One immediately recalls that Capello's game with England against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup, a 0-0 draw, is remembered as one of England's worst performances ever.
If Russia fail to progress from their group after getting a favourable draw, the decision to extend Capello's outrageous contract until 2018 before this tournament started will be perceived as a real travesty. He doesn't deserve it, and Russia need another coach to get the team ready for the 2018 World Cup on home soil.