Russia continued their Euro 2008 preparations with a solid 2-1 victory over Serbia in a friendly clash contested in Germany on Wednesday night.A day after Spartak Moscow's Alexander Pavlenko and Krylya Sovetov Samara's Oleg Ivanov were trimmed from Guus Hiddink's squad, those left in the final 23 looked in fine fettle with the tournament less than two weeks away.

Spartak Moscow striker Roman Pavluchenko came of the bench to claim the match-winning goal in the second half after Marko Pantelic had earlier cancelled out Pavel Pogrebniak's opener for the Russians.

Pogrebniak, top scorer in last season's UEFA Cup for eventual winners Zenit St Petersburg, opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a stunning free-kick from long range.

However, the in-form hitman departed the action just three minutes later with what appeared to be a knee injury and was replaced by Pavluchenko.

Serbia pulled level after 41 minutes when Pantelic found himself a yard in the area and deftly lofted the ball over the advancing Igor Akinfeev.

But victory for the Russians was assured just three minutes after the restart when Dmitri Sychev sent in a telling ball from the right side of the area and Pavluchenko reacted quickest to steer the ball home from six yards.

Russia begin their Euro 2008 campaign in Innsbruck against Spain on June 10 before facing Greece in Salzburg four days later and concluding their Group D matches back in Innsbruck against Sweden on June 18.

More Football News from TEAMtalk