Soul-searching following Russia's miserable performance at Euro 2016 led to one inescapable conclusion: The squad has a long way to go to avoid humiliation on home turf at the 2018 World Cup.

Russia crashed out of Euro 2016 without a win, and its short run at the tournament was tarnished by hooliganism among its fans and scandals in its dressing room.

Former manager Leonid Slutsky, who resigned after the Euro debacle, told Russian media he had confronted his players with the state of affairs, telling them bluntly: "We are (expletive)!"