And they didn't play qualifiers, do keep up....... Italy were so poorly ranked as they played friendy matches against decent sides so didn't record enough wins......
Looking at yesterday's game, Russia got through partly because Spain were slow, slow and then even slower in their build up.
Northern Monkey ... who can't upload a bleeding Avatar
Seriously, p? Seriously? Are you seriously telling me you find it highly unlikely that a massively over-performing Russian team that is hosting the nationally-prestigious World Cup in a country run by Vladimir Putin could maybe - just maybe - be doped up?
Given Russia's history of doping its sportsmen and women, I'm really struggling to understand your resistance to this (I would have thought) less than outlandish notion.