Barca fan Arshavin aims to repay coach Hiddink by helping Russia reach final

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Russia playmaker Andrei Arshavin has thanked Guus Hiddink for his chance at
Euro 2008 - and he wants to repay him by sending the Dutchman into a first major
final as an international coach.

Arshavin was suspended for the first two games of the tournament after needlessly getting sent off in the last qualifier, but Hiddink kept him in his squad despite being upset at the 27-year-old.

He has scored against Sweden and Holland and tonight face Spain in the semi-finals at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium.

Having a ball: Andrei Arshavin prepares for Russia's semi-final against Spain.

'I'm happy Guus Hiddink brought me here despite the ban and let me become a part of the tournament," said Arshavin.

'I came here hoping I'd get a chance to play at such a big tournament. I've never been to an event like this before.

'We had some very tough training sessions and it was difficult for me to be training a lot knowing I wouldn't be playing. It was an unusual feeling.'

His performances has put top clubs in Europe in alert, and Zenit St Petersburg are braced for his departure this summer.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is an admirer of Arshavin but a move to Barcelona would be the player's dream destination.

'I have supported Barcelona all my life,' said Arshavin. 'Barcelona are my dream. I never thought I would have a genuine chance to play for the club. Let's see how the situation unfolds.'

Arshavin was suspended for the game against Spain at the start of the tournament when Russia were defeated 4-1, but they have responded with three wins on the bounce.

Hiddink now may be granted Russian citizenship but the Dutchman is refusing to forget how close it was to Steve McClaren being at the finals instead of him.

It was seven months ago that England were edged out by a point when Croatia won at Wembley, with Russia given a reprieve after they looked to have thrown away qualification with defeat in Israel the previous Saturday.

Rather than Hiddink's team lighting up this tournament, it would have been McClaren's men in their place.

Now Russia president Dmitri Medvedev looks set to give Hiddink honorary citizenship for reaching the semi-finals, just as South Korea did when he took them to the same stage of the World Cup in 2002.

But Hiddink said: 'I'm realistic and won't forget the past.

'Everything is now highlighting us and there is talk about citizenship etc but
I don't forget the tough time we had.

''We played well against England at home but also had a difficult game away against Israel, I'm well aware of that.

'I don't get carried away by today's success. It shows you that football is decided on details."