Russia coach opts for youth and experience in Portugal
By Gennady Fyodorov
MOSCOW, June 2 (Reuters) - Russia coach Georgy Yartsev opted for mixture of youth and experience when he named his 23-man squad for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal on Wednesday.
Yartsev included young newcomers, winger Vladimir Bystrov, full backs Alexander Anyukov and Alexei Bugayev along with seasoned veterans like Alexander Mostovoi and Dmitry Alenichev.
But some familiar Russian faces will not go to Portugal, notably skipper Viktor Onopko, fellow central defender Sergei Ignashevich and midfielder Yegor Titov.
While the absence of Spartak Moscow captain Titov, suspended by UEFA for a year in January after testing positive for a banned stimulant following the first leg of Russia's Euro 2004 playoff against Wales, had been factored in, the loss of Onopko and Ignashevich was hard to swallow.
"What can you say," said Yartsev, who has lost both of his starting central defenders with knee injuries in the last two days.
"Everyone knows that injuries are part of the game but when you lose seven players to various injuries in the last two weeks (of the league season), that's a bit too much."
The coach said the loss of Onopko was especially painful.
The 34-year-old will have to wait for a chance to break Russia's appearance record of 112 set by former European Footballer of the Year Oleg Blokhin from 1972-88.
"We've waited until the last possible moment, hoping Viktor would be able to overcome his injury, but when (Russia's top surgeon) Sergei Mironov gave us his verdict, we knew it was just not meant to be," Yartsev said. "But it will give a chance to our younger players to show the world what they are capable of."
One such a player is Bystrov, who lived up to his surname, which means quick or fast, with his blistering runs down the right flank in Wednesday's friendly against Russia's foreign contingent.
Bystrov, playing for the foreigners because they only had 12 players on the roster, had a much better game than fellow winger Rolan Gusev, who until now was almost assured of being among the first eleven in Portugal.
"After today's match it would be hard for me to overlook Bystrov for the starting role in our first game against Spain," said Yartsev. "He certainly made me think about it."
Russia begin their Euro 2004 campaign against Spain on June 12 before taking on hosts Portugal and Greece in later Group A matches.
"Nobody has any trust in us. Everyone believes we are going to Portugal to lose everything. But what can we lose if we don't have anything?" Yartsev told the press.
"Please do not bury us until we're dead. We are coming to Portugal to fight."
ha Szicsev, Loskov és Buljikin jó formában lesz, akkor továbbmehetnek szűken. de már az is bravúr lenne tényleg. viszont ha már ott vannak, mér állnának meg? :D
Hehe,én bírom az oroszokat,nem kevés orosszal is lakom egy fedél alatt:)
Volt is nagy "pízgyec!",meg "Igyi náhhúj!" a foci VB alatt:)
Ölég gyengére értékelik a csapatukat,szerintük az is nagy csoda lenne,ha továbbmennének a csoportból.
(Bár kiesés esetén garantált Moszkvában az utcai rendbontás)
Russia had the better of the early period, but the high-energy Welsh approach paid off as they neutralised their opponents and launched counterattacks of their own. However, in their defeats in Serbia and Montenegro and Italy they were also at 0-0 after promising first-half performances, while Russia have not scored less than three in any of their home qualifiers.
Referee
Lucilio Cardoso Cortez Batista (POR)
Assistant Referee
Paulo Jorge Januario Leite Ribeiro (POR)
Jose Manuel Silva Cardinal (POR)
Fourth Referee
Antonio Manuel Almeida Costa (POR)
Bulykin boosts Russian bid
Wednesday, 10 September 2003
Dmitri Bulykin scored a hat-trick as Russia defeated Switzerland 4-1 in Moscow to keep alive their hopes of automatic qualification from UEFA EURO 2004™ Group 10.
All to play for
The result moved the Russians into second place in the section with eleven points from seven games, one point behind the Swiss and ahead of the Republic of Ireland by virtue of a superior record in head-to-head games. All three sides have one match to play, with the Swiss taking on Ireland in Basel on 11 October, while Russia are at home to Georgia the same night.
Attacking intent
The opening 45 minutes was a breathless affair, with both sides eager to attack. Aleksandr Kerzhakov had the first real chance after 12 minutes, shooting just over from a narrow angle, but a minute later the visitors were in front. Patrick Müller's perceptive through-ball found Stéphane Chapuisat inside the penalty area, and his low ball across the face of goal was turned in by Alexander Frei.
Immediate response
However, the goal seemed to inspire the home side, who began to press Switzerland back before deservedly equalising seven minutes after falling behind. Kerzhakov beat Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbühler to the ball and found Rolan Gusev, whose cross picked out the unmarked Bulykin and the forward headed into an unguarded net.
Solo strike
Both sides continued to throw men forward at every opportunity, with Kerzhakov forcing Zuberbühler into a full-length save before shooting narrowly wide, but it was Bulykin again who gave the Russians a deserved lead. The forward collected a pass and held off Remo Meyer before bursting past Murat Yakin and Bruno Berner to score with a low shot.
Bulykin hat-trick
The second half began in similar fashion, with Russia still looking the more likely scorers, and Kerzhakov's low strike forced Zuberbühler into another sprawling stop. From the resulting corner, however, it was 3-1, as Bulykin got ahead of his marker to meet Aleksandr Mostovoi's cross with a powerful downward header.
Decisive fourth
The goal visibly deflated the visitors, and the match was wrapped up 17 minutes from time. Kerzhakov's shot was blocked, but the forward regained possession and curled a cross towards Mostovoi, whose header found the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Late chances
Both Kerzhakov and substitute Marat Izmailov had chances to add a fifth, while Switzerland ended the match with ten men after midfield player Ricardo Cabanas was sent off following a tangle with Vladislav Radimov.
Szicsev végre eljött 1 sztárklubba! Nagyon kíváncsi vagyok mire viszi!
Olympique Marseille Land Russian Prodigy Sychev
12/21/2002. Olympique de Marseille have secured the services of Russian wonderkid Dmitri Sychev on a five-year deal from Spartak Moscow worth an estimated €6m.
"We have agreed all terms with Olympique, and the transfer fee is sufficient. Sychev and his agents were happy about the personal terms", stated Spartak's president Andrei Chervichenko.
The technically gifted 18-year-old – who was Russia's star at the World Cup - has been out of action since being banned from football for four months for walking out on Spartak in an attempt to force them to sell him.
The French media is reporting that the contract will only be made official on New Year's day due to the fact that French clubs are only permitted buy players during the January transfer window.