MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russian politicians rushed to congratulate the national soccer team on Wednesday's victory against England, many seeing the result as a symbol of the country's recent political and economic revival.

The game saw more than 80,000 fans, including 5,000 English supporters, fill the Luzhniki stadium for a Euro 2008 qualifying match. Victory for England would have seen them through to the final stages of the tournament, to be held in Austria and Switzerland next year, while defeat for Russia would have ended their chances.

Half-time saw England leading 1-0, after a Wayne Rooney goal in the 29th minute, but two second-half goals from Spartak Moscow striker Roman Pavluchenko, brought on by Russia's Dutch trainer, Guus Hiddink, in the 58th minute, gave Russia victory.

Congratulations poured in from the president down, Vladimir Putin saying in his annual televised question and answer session that, "The victory was a result of team spirit, the professionalism of the trainer, and the support of the entire nation".

The Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov said on Thursday that, "I want to congratulate everyone on yesterday's victory. Beating England is a real event for our soccer."

United Russia party member and the speaker of the lower house of Russia's parliament, Boris Gryzlov, said that, "Every Russian believed that our side could win".

The vice-speaker, Oleg Morozov, said that, "When England scored first [in the 29th minute] I thought I would have a heart attack. But now I am the happiest person in the world. I feel like a person who had been dying of a fatal disease and has found new hope."

Konstantin Kosachyev, chairman of the international affairs committee, told Interfax that the victory "Goes beyond mere sporting success," and that "It's been a long time since we have had a victory capable of lifting the national spirit, something we desperately need in order to achieve victory in many different spheres."

Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov also congratulated the team, and the nation, on Thursday, saying at the opening of a Cabinet session that Russia had "deserved victory."

The recently-appointed PM had also had his say before the match, which he attended, wishing the Russian side luck, and commenting that, "They have 11 players, and we have 11 players. They have two arms and two hands and one head each, and we have the same. But do you know what the most important thing is? We, Russians, won World War II. And we were the first in space. And so we have to do all we can [to win]. And, come on Russia, come on, come on."

Just Russia member Alexander Babakov commented that, "I had goose bumps on my arms when the Russian fans sang the national anthem. This victory will only boost Russia's rebirth."

The president of the Russian Football Union, Vitaly Mutko, also joined in the choir of praise, saying that football was "more than a sport, it is a philosophy for life."

In order to guarantee qualification for Euro 2008, Russia now need to beat Israel and Andorra away, on November 17 and 21, respectively. Viktor Zubkov is quietly confident that Russia can go on to get the necessary points, saying that, "Everything should be OK."

Two-goal hero Pavluchenko had his own thoughts on the result, which the Russian media greeted with headlines like 'Miracle" and "They've Done It," telling a UEFA Web site that "Some will say we got lucky, but it is the ones who deserve it and want it the most who get lucky. At 2-1 I was sure we would win. There was plenty of time left and the English poured forward, but I suddenly felt some kind of calm inside."

Guus Hiddink, who has seen many tense matches during his career, was a calm in the eye of the Russian media storm, saying that, "England have excellent defenders, but they're not perfection personified. After we conceded the goal we kept dominating the match. We were trying to play our game and we managed to finish off the opponents."

Moscow, and other cities across the Russian Federation, saw celebrations go on until early in the morning.