Dark Horses Become Also-Rans
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
When drawn in a group in which co-hosts Poland were the other seeded team, it was widely predicted that Russia would sail through into the knockout phase.
Their comprehensive 4-1 win over Czech Republic on the opening day of the championship saw them installed by many as the tournament’s “dark horses,” just as they were four years ago when they made the semifinals in Austria and Switzerland.
However, a 1-1 draw against Poland meant their fate was in the balance going into the final round of Group A games, when a 1-0 defeat to Greece and the Czechs beating Poland by the same scoreline sent Dick Advocaat’s side packing.
continued....