It was a little under two weeks ago that Spain demolished Russia 4-1 in the opening match of Group D after a series of what Hiddink called "childish mistakes" undermined any attacking potential the Russians may have displayed.
However, with Russia looking to get out of their group for the first time since the split up of the U.S.S.R., the team showed real character to beat Greece 1-0 in their next game.
The following match, against Sweden, saw the return of Arshavin, and Russia were a side revitalized, running rings around the ageing Swedish defense to win 2-0.
Holland were next up, and with the elf-like genius of Arshavin creating chance after chance, Hiddink's side ran out 3-1 winners, the Dutch coach Van Basten commenting that "on that performance, Russia are one of the strongest sides in the world."
Yuri Zhirkov, Russia's attacking full-back, said after the Holland victory that, "If we can beat opponents like this, it really makes no difference who we play."
Indeed, Spain are sure to find Russia an entirely different proposition from the team they humbled in Innsbruck on June 10. The side is growing in confidence, and having already far exceeded domestic expectations, will be free to play with the same style and attacking nature they showed against Sweden and Holland.
After the victory over the Dutch, some 700,000 Muscovites took to the streets of the Russian capital to celebrate - the largest spontaneous celebration in Moscow since the end of WWII.
The players, however, are not letting the win over Holland go to their heads.
"We are full of emotion, but we are trying to keep calm," said Konstantin Zyrianov, the midfielder whose tireless running did much to crack the Dutch defense on Saturday. "Let the people back home celebrate though - after all we haven't given them much to be happy about in recent years."
Some 10,000 Russian fans are expected to support their team in Vienna on April 26. Those fans already in Austria and Switzerland for the tournament have had their visas extended until two days after the final on July 1.
International and Russian bookmakers make Germany, who face Turkey in Wednesday's first semifinal, favorites to life the trophy. Russia are at a generous 4-1.
