Fabio Capello did not have the greatest of times with England in the last World Cup in South Africa, and the Italian supremo will look to change that not-so-nice feeling at the 2014 World Cup as Russia begin their campaign against South Korea in Group H at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.
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The Group H match is scheduled for a 6 pm local time (3.30 am IST, 11 pm BST, 6 pm ET) start with live coverage on Sony Six Sony Six HD in India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Catch the game in Russia live online HERE, while viewers in South Korea can do so HERE. Watch the match in the UK on ITV and BBC with the live streaming option HERE or HERE. US viewers can watch the game on ESPN while the optioin to live stream is HERE. Australia viewers can go HERE to watch the game online, while South Africa viewers can watch the match HERE.
Russia are seen as the second favourites in Group H, behind Belgium and will go into their opener against South Korea as the clear favourites.
While Russia might have been a strong footballing force as the Soviet Union, the country have struggled in the big stage, qualifying for the WC only twice since independence in 1991, with their last World Cup appearance being in 2002, ironically the one hosted by the South Koreans.
"It's important for Russia to be playing in the finals for the first time in 12 years, we need the experience to understand the top level in football [today] to prepare for the Euro [in 2016] and the World Cup at home," said Capello, whose side Russia are set to host the World Cup in 2018.
The entire squad is home based and there are plenty of doubts on the capabilities of this Russian side; but the team believe that unknown factor might work in their favour.
"We are bidding to win this tournament," Alexander Kerzhakov, the only player still in the squad from the 2002 World Cup when Russia failed to go past the group stages, told FIFA's official website. "All of our players have been thriving in Russia, but people outside the country don't know us. What's important, though, is that our coach, Fabio Capello, knows us and our strengths.
"We know what we're capable of and if everyone plays to the best of their abilities, we will succeed."
The Russians will be up against a team not exactly in the greatest of form at the moment. South Korea have lost four of their last five matches, including a 4-0 humbling by Ghana. The Asian side have shown they are goal-shy as well, scoring just twice in those matches, while conceding 11.
Korea captain Koo Ja-Cheol admitted the 4-0 thrashing handed out by Ghana has forced the side to retrospect, insisting the heavy defeat might just have been the wake-up call they needed.
"The overall atmosphere was not that great, but thanks to that match we talked a lot about it...and how we didn't take advantage of the chances against Ghana," Koo said on Monday. "As we arrived in Brazil, we created a more positive atmosphere. We are fully confident about tomorrow."
Korea will also feel a little on the back foot against Russia, having lost 2-1 to them in a friendly in November last year.
"I think we're well informed and on top of that we've already played them and got to know them," Capello said. "It's not important to know their names but the characteristics of the players is most important to prepare properly to get to the match in excellent conditions."
Expected lineups: Russia: Akinfeev; Eshchenko, Ignashevitch, Berezutski, Kombarov; Dzagoev, Denisov, Samedov, Fayzulin, Zhirkov; Kokorin.
South Korea: Sung-Ryong; Lee-Yong, Jeong-Ho, Young-Gwon, Joo-Ho; Sung-Yueng, Jong-Woo; Ja-Cheol, Chung-Yong, Heung-Min; Chu-Yong.
Prediction: 2-0 to Russia
