Euro 2012 Group A: Russia
GROUP A
Poland Russia Greece Czech Republic
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Russia
Road to Poland & Ukraine
The fact that Russia topped a major tournament qualifying group for the first time in five attempts by finishing two points ahead of the Republic of Ireland, especially against the backdrop of failing to even qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, should have delighted the Russian football public.
But despite the rapidly improving domestic league, doubts remain about the national team's capacity to match Europe's elite. Being drawn in comfortable-looking Group A alongside co-hosts Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic has only added to the pressure on Russia's shoulders, although only Italy shipped fewer goals during qualifying, so Dick Advocaat's side should be difficult to beat.
Fixtures
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Russia Kit 1
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Russia Kit 2
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Russia v Czech Republic 8 June; Wroclaw
Russia v Poland 12 June; Warsaw
Russia v Greece 16 June; Warsaw
Analysis
Coach Dick Advocaat has made no apologies for building his side around a core group of CSKA and Zenit St. Petersburg players even though detractors of his regime since replacing the popular Guus Hiddink have accused Advocaat of stubbornly sticking to players based on past merits and overlooking a number of the country's rising stars.
Given Advocaat's track record in managing international sides and his success with Zenit before being appointed to the Russian post, you would have thought the 61-year-old might have earned more respect in his adopted homeland.
That said, Russia will surely find it tough to match their exceptional run to the semi-finals at Euro 2008, during which Andrey Arshavin shone in the latter stages of the competition. Arshavin may have struggled at Arsenal in the English Premier League this season but the national team captain was an ever-present through qualifying and he remains fundamental to Advocaat's preferred system.
Key player: Roman Pavlyuchenko
Roman Pavlyuchenko is primed to play a crucial role at Euro 2012 after ending his three-and-a-half year stay at Tottenham Hotspur to join Lokomotiv Moscow in the winter transfer window. "This will help all parties - Roman, his new club and the national team," Dick Advocaat said on hearing the news that Pavlyuchenko was returning to the Russian capital.
The 30-year-old was Russia's most prolific marksman during Euro 2012 qualifying despite being on the fringes of first team action at Spurs, although he believes that his stay in London has helped him develop personally and professionally.
One to watch: Denis Glushakov
Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder was recently praised by Dick Advocaat as the player that had made the biggest strides in the past 12 months and the 24-year-old seems set to play a leading role in Ukraine and Poland. Glushakov has already found the net eight times in 23 Russian Premier League games this season from midfield - in addition to three in the Europa League - and has confirmed Advocaat's decision to offer him a national team chance.
Coach: Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat made Russia his fifth international management job when he took over in May 2010 from Guus Hiddink. The Dutchman has previously managed The Netherlands, UAE, South Korea and Belgium and famously guided Zenit to a UEFA Cup win over Rangers in 2008.
Although Advocaat's methods haven't endeared him to some sections of supporters or the Russian media, he has a long-time working relationship with the president of the Russian Football Federation and he is expected to prolong his contract by another two years regardless of his side's success in the summer.
Record
Did not qualify 1976, 1980, 1984, 2000; Group stage 1992, 1996, 2004, Semi-finals 1968, 2008; Runners-up 1964, 1972, 1988; Champions 1960
FIFA Ranking
How they qualified for Euro 2012
Topped Qualifying Group B ahead of the Republic of Ireland and Slovakia.
On the sidelines
Russian legend Viktor Onopko is the national side's most capped player with 109 appearances.
Soccerphile says
Although Russia are already building towards a stellar showing in six years at the World Cup 2018 on home turf, they expect to see some signs of development here. Anything less than a quarter-finals place would be considered a failure.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg), Anton Shunin (Dynamo Moscow)
Defenders: Alexander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexei Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Roman Sharonov (Rubin Kazan), Vladimir Granat (Dynamo Moscow), Kirill Nababkin (CSKA Moscow)
Midfielders: Igor Denisov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Yuri Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala), Alan Dzagoyev (CSKA Moscow), Igor Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Denis Glushakov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Marat Izmailov (Sporting), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow)
Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham)