TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israel coach Dror Kashtan said on Friday he hoped Russian striker Alexander Kerzhakov would be shown up for his "arrogant" claim that his side would win even if Israel fielded 13 players in their Euro 2008 qualifier.
Israel, who host Russia on Saturday in Group E, cannot qualify for next year's finals but the visitors know victory for them in Tel Aviv would all but secure their place.
Kerzhakov was quoted by newspapers earlier this week as saying: "We cannot fail to win even if we face 13 players."
Kashtan retorted: "We checked again with UEFA if we can field 13 players but I can say clearly here that we will take the field with 11 players.
"And I hope that the player who displayed the arrogance will be shown up for his arrogance," he told reporters.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink took a more cautious stance than his striker, saying he expected a tough game because of Israel's good home record. Croatia's 4-3 win in Israel a year ago ended a seven-year unbeaten run for the home side in Tel Aviv.
DIFFICULT GAME
"We do expect a difficult game because the record of Israel at home is rather strong," he said.
Victory for Russia would practically seal their place in the finals with a last group game against bottom side Andorra still to come. It would also almost certainly end the hopes of England, who host group leaders Croatia on Wednesday.
Hiddink said England would be feeling the pressure more than Russia, who were simply "happy to still be in the competition".
"England? The pressure is on them," the Dutchman told Reuters. "We have a young team. We want to be there. That's an aim. But for them it's a must."
Emphasising how far Russia have come after years of underachievement, Hiddink said reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland could revolutionise football in the country.
"If it happens it would be a tremendous achievement of the team," he said. "It will accelerate the process of improving the infrastructure in Russia."
The Dutchman added that investment was needed in Russia's stadiums, training facilities and youth coaching.
(Additional reporting by Ori Lewis; Editing by Sonia Oxley)
