Demand for tickets to the October 17 Euro 2008 qualifying tie between Russia and England has reached unprecedented levels, as tickets went on open sale in Moscow on Monday morning. The Russian FA announced that it had received over half a million applications for tickets, and that 6,500 tickets would be available at the Luzhniki stadium, where the game is due to take place. Monday morning saw several thousand fans queuing outside the Luzhniki`s ticket offices. Some had stood all night in the pouring rain. By midday, the queue was reported to be over a kilometer long (0.6 miles). The majority of tickets have already been snapped up by ticket agencies and fan clubs, and 4,500 tickets have been set aside for visiting English fans. The game is one that Russia must win to retain a realistic chance of qualification for Euro 2008, due to kick off in Austria and Switzerland next June. Following England`s 3-0 victory at Wembley on September 12, Russia lie in third place in Group E, two points behind England and five points behind the group leaders, Croatia. That difference could stretch to five and eight points respectively by Saturday evening, as England take on Estonia in London and Croatia face Israel in Zagreb. The first two teams in the group qualify for Euro 2008. As Moscow gears up for the arrival of the star-studded England side, posters reading: "Putin`s plan for Russia - Victory!" have appeared on billboards throughout the capital. It is unlikely that the enigmatic message refers to the crunch tie, but is one that Russian football fans have ironically, and enthusiastically, adopted as their own.