Russia produced the sort of football purists dream of and gave the Czech Republic a lesson in moving the ball quickly, effectively and beautifully on Friday as they announced themselves as potential Euro 2012 challengers.

Alan Dzagoyev scored twice in the 4-1 triumph in their Group A opener but little maestro Andrei Arshavin took many of the plaudits for threading the sort of cute little passes which give nightmares to cumbersome defenders.

Odds were quickly slashed on Dick Advocaat's men winning the tournament but with a long way to go and a potentially tough quarter-final against the Germans, Dutch or Portuguese, they will have to keep this form going for a few weeks yet.

"The Czechs left some space which made us dangerous," Advocaat, a Dutchman schooled in the pass and move groove, told reporters.

"For the first game I am happy about it. Andrei played a very good game. He worked very hard. He was very important for the team the way he can play."

Asked if his side were now among the favourites, even before 12 of the 16 teams have played, Advocaat exuded the sort of realism which Russia will need if they are to avoid a repeat of their 2008 semi-final failure after being equally hyped.

"It is most important we won the first game. At the end is when you lift the trophy, not now," he said, keeping his eyes fixed on the rest of Group A - where Poland drew 1-1 with Greece earlier - rather than the final in Kiev on July 1.