You're reading: Russia looks to improve after beating Italy

WARSAW — Beating Italy 3-0 in a final pre-tournament friendly apparently was not good enough for Russia coach Dick Advocaat.

After the match on June 1, he scanned video of the match looking for ways his team could improve.

Four years after its surprise run to the semifinals of the 2008 European Championship, Advocaat’s perfectionism means Russia will again be a strong outsider at Euro 2012.

Advocaat says his team "gave away too many chances against Italy" and can’t afford such sloppiness at the back at the European Championship.

Russia opens its Group A campaign Friday against the Czech Republic in Wroclaw before returning to Warsaw to play host Poland and 2004 champion Greece.