The President received the players and the team’s chief trainer, Gus Hiddink, at the Maiendorf Castle in the Moscow Region.
Calling the team’s performance a great achievement, the President congratulated the players and said he hoped the team would have many achievements and memorable victories ahead.
Mr Medvedev noted the immense amount of hard work the team put into achieving its result. The Russian footballers displayed excellent fitness, individual skill and a collective sense of purpose.
Team captain Sergei Semak gave the President a football autographed by the players, a pennant and a team jersey with the inscription ”From Team Russia 2008, winners of the bronze medal in the European championship“.