LiveSoccerTV.com provides some insight into Russia's squad...as well as what are the team's hopes for their chances ahead of the World Cup.

Russia aren't viewed as favorites to even get out of their group, but as hosts of the tournament, they will be hoping that their home pitch advantage will help them navigate through a tricky quartet that also includes Uruguay and an Egyptian side led by the in-form Mohamed Salah.

The 2018 World Cup hosts have not impressed much in their recent friendlies, losing to Brazil and France, but despite this, are full of hope and ambition to put on a good show in front of their fans this summer. And with that in mind, they should not be underestimated, perhaps.

Coach's mission

Stanislav Cherchesov was appointed in August 2016 with one clear target: to reach the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As to how realistic that actually is remains to be seen as Russia obviously have to first get out of their group, and on paper at least that seems to be pretty tough enough as it is.

That being said, Cherchesov is no stranger himself to playing for Russia at tournaments for this scope, having featured for the national side at both the 1994 and 2002 World Cups, as well as EURO 1996 as a goalkeeper.

New recruits

Some of the newer faces in this squad include identical twins Alexei and Anton Miranchuk, both of whom are 22 years old and play as a forward and midfielder for Lokomotiv Moscow.

Experienced faces

Veteran mambers include star skipper and shot-stopper Igor Akinfeev, as well as his club teammate Alan Dzagoev and Villarreal's Denis Cheryshev.

Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Brugge), Andrei Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg)

Defenders: Vladimir Granat (Rubin Kazan), Fyodor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow),  Andrei Semenov (Akhmat Grozny), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg), Mario Fernandes (CSKA Moscow), Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow)

Midfielders: Yuri Gazinsky (Krasnodar), Alexander Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (Zenit St Petersburg), Daler Kuzyaev (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moscow), Alexander Samedov (Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villareal)

Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Alexei Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fyodor Smolov (Krasnodar)

Russia's fixtures: