Russia’s football captain handed two-game ban at Euro 2008

Russian football fans’ hopes have been dealt a massive blow with the news that captain and star midfielder Andrey Arshavin will miss the team's first two games at next year's Euro championships.

The Zenit St Petersburg man, who is a target for Newcastle United, was handed the two-match ban for dangerous play during Russia's final Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra last month – the match that secured the squad a finals berth.

A more serious penalty for the straight red card would have meant the 26-year-old missing the entire tournament after coach Guus Hiddink said he would leave the player at home if he was ruled out of all three group stage clashes.

Arshavin will miss games against Spain and Greece but is available for his country's final group match against Sweden.