There is every likelihood of fireworks on and off the pitch tonight as Poland take on Russia in Group A of Euro2012 (7.45pm KO, Live on ITV1), and it’s the latter who are taken to come out on top at 6/4 with Stan James.
The “eastern European derby” at the National Stadium in Warsaw is being built up into a battle royal by local papers, with references being made to Poland’s victorious 1920 battle against the Bolshevik Army.
The highly-charged match also falls on Russia Day (a national holiday), and some Russian fans plan to march from the city centre to the stadium which is likely to add further fuel to to the fire.
There is no doubt that there is going to be no love lost between the two sides and the atmosphere inside the stadium is guaranteed to be a hostile one.
But on the pitch itself it promises to be a cracker, and it’s Russia who look the stronger of the two sides.
Poland have only won one of their previous six competitive games against the (including games against the former Soviet Union), losing three and drawing two and are also yet to win a game at European Championships (D2 L2).
By stark contrast Russia are unbeaten in 15 games (won 8) and come into this on the back of thrashing the Czech Republic 4-1 in the opening game.
That was the biggest ever win registered by them in the Euros, and Dick Advocaat’s could easily have won by double the margin.
Roman Shirokov continued the form that helped make Zenit St Petersburg the Russian champions by netting in that game, and he looks worth a punt at 11/1 with BetVictor, Coral and Stan James to score first.