EVERYONE in Singapore must be wondering how the Russians were able to keep running and running right into extra-time this morning.

What do they eat? What do they drink?

1. What we know now is that one of Russia's key factors was their superior fitness.

Even Holland couldn't outrun them.

Towards the end of extra-time, they were still able to let the Dutch players get a headstart, then chase and almost overtake them for the ball.

That's a clear sign of their fitness advantage.

It helps that Russia's players are in the middle of their domestic league season, so they are gaining in form and fitness, as opposed to the European-based players from other teams who have just ended a long season, before playing at Euro08.

2. Russia do not sit back and counter-attack. Their relentless attack against Holland was another key point.

They remembered how Holland went into Euro08 with many question marks over their shaky defence.

But because of their thrashings of Italy and France, many forgot how their defence has yet to be tested properly.

The game-plan was correct from the start. Do not let the Dutch attack. Instead, attack the dodgy Dutch defence. The Russians exposed them, and never let them enjoy too much possession.

Andre Ooijer, (Joris) Mathijsen and Khalid Boulahrouz were torn apart especially. The Russians never gave them time to settle from the start, affecting their confidence as the game went on.

3. The best teams have a true playmaker most of the time. Like Wesley Sneijder for Holland, Russia have Andrei Arshavin. Without him in their first two group games, they were missing that extra edge.

This morning, he outshone even Sneijder, who was at least trying his very best to lift Holland single-handedly.

Arshavin created the first and second goals, and scored on the turn for the third Russian goal.

This is what the best playmakers do, on the big stage. They single-handedly lift their teams.

What are Arshavin's individual qualities that I like? Well, he can be so simple and effective.

QUICK

If you tackle his right leg with your left leg, he switches to his left leg and goes past you. He can switch direction so easily and change the play just like that.

Quick feet, quick thinking. That's Arshavin for me.

4. With a short player like Arshavin, Russia need someone like a tall and graceful Roman Pavlyuchenko in front of him. He holds up the ball superbly, heads well, and can drift to the flanks and push past defenders nicely. The technical skill level for Pavlyuchenko is very high, and the combination and understanding with Arshavin has been deadly so far.

5. Guus Hiddink is the final X-factor that gives Russia their edge.

As coach at this top international level, he has always been consistent in going for a young and fit team.

He did that with South Korea at the 2002 World Cup, as he led them to the semi-finals. He couldn't do that so much with Australia at the 2006 World Cup because he really needed their overseas-based players for experience.

But this time, with Russia, he had youth, fitness, plus technical quality.

All he needed was to improve them tactically and give them confidence, which he has done so effectively.