Russia U-21s crash out of Euro 2013

Manager Nikolai Pisarev of Russia looks on during UEFA European U21 Championships, Group B match between The Netherlands and Russia at Teddy Stadium on June 9, 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Getty Images)

Jerusalem, June 10 (IANS): Russia’s under-21 football team were eliminated from the European championships as results elsewhere conspired against them.

A 5-1 hammering by the Netherlands earlier Sunday put Nikolai Pisarev’s side on the brink of a group stage exit, with only a German victory over Spain able to save the Russians.

But a 1-0 victory for Spain leaves Russia six points adrift at the bottom of Group B with one game to play. The now-meaningless fixture is against the Germans Wednesday.

Russia are playing in the final stage of the tournament for the first time since 1998, when they lost to Spain in the quarterfinals.