In theory, a country with a population of nearly 150 million should be regular challengers for continental and global rewards.

Yet Russia, which shrank slightly as a result of the Soviet Union’s collapse, has achieved relatively little at youth and senior international level.

Over the past 20 years, Russia has qualified for just two World Cups, failing to get out of reasonable groups on both occasions.

Aside from an Andrey Arshavin-inspired semi-final appearance at Euro 2012, they have punched well below their weight at European Championships, failing to qualify from the group in their four other finals appearances.

Although the Soviet Union did not achieve as much success as their potential would have suggested, they still managed to win a European Championship and often featured in the latter stages of the World Cup.

Of course it helped that they had sizeable contingents from Soviet Republics like Ukraine.

And of course the fact that Russia could no longer rely on neighbouring talent, along with the chaos of the immediate post-Soviet era made it difficult in the early stages of Russia’s existence.

However, fast forward to the present day and some Russian Premier League clubs are incredibly cash rich, while Russia will host the 2018 World Cup which should see more investment in football infrastructure.

But scratch below the surface and serious issues persist. Almost 50 per cent of registered players in the Russian top flight are foreign, with a huge Brazilian contingent particularly prominent at the top clubs. Last season, 27 players came from the South American football superpower.

Foreign players including our own Aiden McGeady who is at Spartak Moscow

Consequently Russia has struggled at youth level. They might have qualified for this year’s European U21 Championship, but that is their first appearance since 1998.

Russia has also never qualified for a European Championship at U19 level, while the U17s won the Euros in 2006 on the only occasion they qualified.

And when you really think about it, how many Russian players have really done it consistently at the highest level over the past 20 years? And how many have really succeeded abroad?

Arshavin had the potential which occasionally glimmered and CSKA Moscow playmaker Alan Dzagoev is clearly talented, but aside from them, the country of almost 150 million has failed to produce top class players.

So where is all the money going?

Paying foreign players is one aspect, but also the lopsided nature of investment as there is a huge financial gulf between the top four of five clubs and the rest.

Those big clubs like Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow may spend vast sums but they are not particularly well run and will struggle to comply with the incoming Financial Fair Play Rules especially as their spending has focused on players and wages rather than adequate development at youth level.

And one must also note that many wealthy billionaires like Roman Abramovich and Monaco’s Dmitry Rybolovlev have spent more money abroad than at home, even if the Chelsea owner has sponsored the National Academy of Football which has funded the construction of numerous football facilities across the country.

2018 may seem like a lifetime away but it is just five years, a short time in football-speak. Russia’s fans will hope that their nation will do them proud. But if they fail to deal with the apparent issues now, they will make the task much harder for themselves.