Well Group D gets underway tomorrow late afternoon in Innsbruck as contenders and perennial underachievers Spain look to start their campaign by overcoming Russia, managed by the legendary Guus Hiddink. Your thoughts on this upcoming tie?

Personally i anticipate this to be an intriguing and a rather entertaining encounter. Russia will suffer without suspended Arshavin in my view and Zenit teammate Pavel Pogrebnyak.

Spain is my team for Euro 2008 and im sure they will get off to a good start and beat the Russians. I'm gonna guess that the score will be 2-0.

Arshavin looked a class act in the Uefa Cup final Russia are better going forward than defensively. 2-1 to Spain for me.

1-1

So far predictions going pretty good

Russia missing a few key players mainly there striker Pay----------------

i think russia will win.

1-0 to russia...

Russia are definately a darkhorse especially under Hiddink who will make sure they're organised and rampant in attack. Spain are a superior side player-for-player though. It's very hard to say.

I think Spain will edge it by a goal and Akinfeev will put on a clinic.

hate to bring politics into the sport ,but for those reasons these have to be my two most hated teams in football currently. I used to root for Russia because of their mentality and style of play ,but those two characteristics are not enough for me to ignored the current climate of hate that permeates that society right now. So that being said ,f*ck both of them.

You not watching the match then?

i'll go for 3-1 spain

Group D begins.

Looking forward to this because obviously Spain have four Liverpool players (two definitely won't play mind, Reina and Arbeloa). Although their sytle doesn't get the best from Torres.

This group is totally open and a draw for Russia would put them in a fine position, but i'm sure they can go one better and win this match - and they'll try to. I don't think many sides past a certain standard fear Spain in the same way they do other top sides.

I expect a stuttering Spain win, 1-0, David Villa.

Being of Spanish origin I'm starting to feel nervous now
a bit like before you go on a date with a beautiful woman...

I hope coach Aragones doesnt leave Fabregas on the bench
like I have read in the papers...Sorry to all you Liverpool fans out
there but I would rather that Xabi Alonso was left on the subs bench.

I'm pleased Russia's star player Arshavin won't be playing due to his ban.

My predictions have been rubbish so far especialy in yesterdays games
but if we can't beat the Russians comfortably I won't be very happy tonight.

I'm going for a Spain 2 v 0 Russia....I will be wearing my lucky pants today.

agaaaain??? you was wearing it the last 3 days too!!!

I say 1-0 for Spain. Russia has never scored a goal to Spain (since their first match in 1991).

Apology accepted. But it's okay, he's leaving in the summer anyway.

I definitely wouldn't play him based on his performances this season.

Possible line-up:

---------------------Torres---------Villa-----------------------

------Silva----------------------------------------Iniesta------
----------------------Xavi---------Senna----------------------

---Capdevilla-----Juanito--------Puyol---------Ramos------

---------------------------Casillas-----------------------------


Dunno about Iniesta on the right, but just tried to fit him in somewhere. They could go with the 4-5-1 they'd used quite often though, but i expect both Villa and Torres to be used. Fabregas may be deployed on the right if need be.

I'd have Arbeloa at left-back too, but i'm biased. He's solid though, and if that's what they're lacking Spain then he'd be a welcome inclusion (never going to happen mind), and all i know about Capdevila is that he agreed to join Preson North End on Total Club Manager 2004. With ambition like that, how can Spain ever succeed?!

I really really hope Fabregas is playing in the starting XI and not in the bench. Spain should edge it out on paper atleast IMO. But Russians shouldn't be underestimated. It's going to be a close match I think but spain should win 1-0 or 2-1...

what?

I think the Russians will desperately miss the creativity and sheer class of Andrei Arshavin and Pavluchenko has not had the best of seasons by any means at his club Spartak Moscow so goals maybe hard to come by in this one. In Vladimir Bystrov, the Russians have the supposed fastest player at the tournament and Hiddink generally opts for a 3-5-2 formation with two holding players and threee attack minded players behind the front two. A lot tonight will depend on Zenit Midfielder Konstantin Zyryanov, who will be charged with protecting the back three.

Many are touting the Spanish to continue their variation on the 4-3-3 formation, a 4-1-2-3 that see the back four protected by a holding Midfielder with two ball players further advanced behind a front three, likely to be Torres, Villa and Iniesta. All in all i expect the Spanish to grab the win by a small margin, 1-0.

Spain shouldn't face any problems today. They always have a strong starting line-up, and have good back-up players as well. With Torres and Villa up front, supported by a strong and talented midfield, i can see goals for them. 3-1 to spain.

i think russia might put upa good fight to be honest. there is just too much hype around italy