If Russia are to show progress, nothing less than reaching the Euro 2012 final will do, Zenit's national team goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
After topping their qualification group, expectations are high that the Russians might repeat their strong performance of Euro 2008, where they beat the Netherlands in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Spain 3-0 in the semifinal.
"Reaching the semifinals at the Euro would be a good achievement for Russia," said Malafeev, who is likely to play understudy to CSKA Moscow's Igor Akinfeev in Ukraine and Poland.
"But that would only repeat the result that was reached in 2008. It would turn out that there has been no forward movement. Of course, everyone wants forward movement, achieving new heights and results. So taking one more step, into the final, would be an ever better achievement," said the 33 year old.
Malafeev said the surprises thrown up this season by Europe's top club competition the Champions League show that the modern definition of favorites was flaky at best.
Most observers predicted a Real Madrid-Barcelona final, but both Spanish teams were ousted in their respective semifinals by Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
"As the Champions League shows, thoughts about who is the strongest, attempts to guess the outcome of who'll get to the final, don't always succeed. Many expected a Spanish final, but it will be Anglo-German."
Malafeev is one of the country's most experienced goalkeepers, and could made his 300th appearance for his club in Sunday's home match against Spartak Moscow, when Zenit are to be awarded the Russian Premier League trophy.
Zenit won it with three matches to spare with a 2-1 win over Dynamo Moscow on Saturday.
He has 23 caps for Russia since 2003, when he made his debut in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Wales.
At Euro 2012, which kicks off June 8, Russia faces co-host Poland, the Czech Republic and Greece. Their potential quarterfinal opponents include Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
