When Russia lines up against Israel in the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday, they’ll have a supporter in a somewhat unusual spot – on the Israeli bench. Soviet legend Aleksander Uvarov is Israel’s goalkeeper coach.

“I don't make any distinction whether a player is Russian or Israeli. It should be decided on the field. But if you ask me from my heart, then I want Russia to win because I don't want England to be in the championship,” Aleksandr Uvarov said.

Uvarov made his name as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his time

After a tremendously successful home career, he came to play eight games for an Israeli club and stayed for sixteen years.

Aleksandr Uvarov

The Russian team is well aware that inside world football circles the Israeli team is known as one of the best in the world in unimportant games.

“They have nothing to gain regarding qualification, but they have a lot to gain regarding prestige. If you win now from a growing country like Russia then you get a lot of prestige. I think that they will welcome us very warmly and we'll have a very difficult game,” Russia's coach, Guus Hiddink, said to RT.

The two teams have already played each other in Moscow where the match ended in a draw. But this game makes the Israelis even more dangerous.

“I know that the football field in Andorra is a very difficult field. But the game in Israel is very important, and if they win here they have a 90% chance of making it to the championship,” Aleksandr Uvarov added.