Arshavin blames tiredness for draw with Poland

The captain was frustrated as his side failed to hang on to a lead against the co-hosts but still only need a point from their final group game to secure a place in the last eight

Russia captain Andrey Arshavin has blamed tiredness for his side’s inability to seal all three points against Poland as the co-hosts came from behind to snatch a draw in Warsaw.

Dick Advocaat’s side took a first-half lead when Alan Dzagoev headed his skipper’s pinpoint free-kick past Przemyslaw Tyton, as they looked to book their place in the quarter-finals.

However, with the backing of the home crowd Poland equalised through a wonder strike from Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski to earn a precious point in their battle to qualify from the group stages.

Arshavin believes that his team were too fatigued to force the issue against Franciszek Smuda’s side which he admits was frustrating and allowed the hosts back into the game.

“We played very open football in the second half which gave the Poland players an opportunity to play on the counter and they took advantage of that," he told reporters after the game.

“We were a little bit tired and not able to apply the pressure we wanted.”

The result leaves Russia on four points and top of Group A after two games needing only a point to qualify for the last eight of Euro 2012 from their match against Greece.