SOCCER:NOT A man given to flights of fancy, Russia manager Dick Advocaat has resisted calls to infuse his squad with a smattering of youth for the forthcoming Euro 2012 double-header against Macedonia and the Republic of Ireland.
Once again, there are no newcomers in Advocaat’s selection but with so much riding on the results as the qualifying campaign enters the home straight, it comes as little surprise that the pragmatic Dutchman has opted to stick with his tried and tested.
With an ageing panel, Advocaat caved in to pressure to explore the country’s emerging talent earlier this summer, blooding a handful of youngsters in a friendly against Cameroon. The ensuing match, a dreary scoreless draw that saw his side jeered out of the stadium, only served to harden Advocaat’s stance and he has insisted since that now is not the time to experiment.
The coach reverted to type for last month’s 1-0 win over Serbia and names an almost identical 20-man panel for the two matches in Moscow.
While that will result in many bright young things having to bide their time in the Russian Premier League, it also means the personnel that caused Ireland so many problems back in October will again be deployed at the Luzhniki Stadium on September 6th.
All of the goalscorers in that 3-2 win at the Aviva Stadium are included, although there is some concern over Alexander Kerzhakov’s fitness after the striker picked up an ankle injury in the Serbia game.
Fullback Alexander Anyukov, a constant thorn in Ireland’s side with marauding runs down Kevin Kilbane’s flank, is another slight doubt while Andrei Arshavin was cut during a clash of heads with Nemanja Vidic but Advocaat expects all three to report for duty.
“I just don’t like to change players for the sake of making a change,” Advocaat said of his selection. “Honestly, I don’t think I should change anything especially after a win (the 1-0 win over Serbia). I called up the same players, and that means that I trust them.
“Injuries to Anyukov and Kerzhakov seem to be minor and Arshavin should also be feeling fine,” Advocaat added. “I hope all our players will arrive match-fit.”
Igor Denisov, who missed the match against Serbia through injury, returns to bolster Advocaat’s midfield options while Yuri Zhirkov, now back in Russia having completed his move from Chelsea to big-spending Anzhi Makhachkala, is also included.
RUSSIA SQUAD
(for the Euro 2012 home qualifiers against Macedonia on September 2nd and Ireland on September 6th)
Goalkeepers: Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg).
Defenders: Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala), Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Shishkin (Lokomotiv Moscow)
Midfielders: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Everton), Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Denisov (Zenit St Petersburg), Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Dzagoyev (CSKA Moscow), Torbinsky (Lokomotiv Moscow), Glushakov (Lokomotiv Moscow).
Forwards: Arshavin (Arsenal), Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham Hotspur), Pogrebnyak (VfB Stuttgart), Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg).
