Zenit St Petersburg manager Andre Villas-Boas expects Russia to improve considerably in time to take on England in their first game at Euro 2016.
Russia were hammered 4-2 by tournament hosts France in Paris on Tuesday, looking nothing like a side that had won six of their previous seven matches.
Coach Leonid Slutsky had guided Russia to qualification after replacing former England boss Fabio Capello last August but the two-goal margin of defeat at the Stade de France flattered his side.
Villas-Boas said France had been "exceptional" in the first half against a strong visiting line-up but the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager has backed Russia to recover.
"I'm certain that Russia are much better than what they showed last night," Villas-Boas told L'Equipe. "I was surprised by how quickly they lost the ball in the first 20 minutes.
"But like most of the other nations that have qualified for the Euros, they're a team that is experimenting. The team they put out was completely different to the one that beat Lithuania on Saturday.
"They're a team looking for stability and then I think you should always put this type of friendly match into perspective.
"England beat Germany at the weekend but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're a superior team [than Germany] for the moment."
Russia will play England at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on June 11 in what will be both sides' opening Group B fixture at Euro 2016 before they then face Slovakia and Wales.