Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has woken from a footballing slumber to score three times and become one of the Euro 2008 semi-finalists' best assets.
Also see: Arshavin inspires Russia to new heights
Described as a "sleeping giant" by coach Guus Hiddink, who told him to wake up and get fit or risk missing the finals, the promising but sometimes frustrating 26-year-old has clearly been aroused by that alarm bell.
Having convinced Hiddink to include him in the squad, he lost weight and sharpened his game during an intense pre-tournament training programme. When striker Pavel Pogrebnyak pulled out injured days before the start, he was ready to take over in the starting line-up.
Text: Reuters | Photographs: Getty Images
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