Gia Saralidze. Exclusively to VK
The Russian national football team prepares for next qualification matches of the World Cup 2014 against Portugal and Azerbaijan.
On Monday the Russian team held first training ahead of Moscow matches against Portugal (October 12) and Azerbaijan (October 16). 12 players participated in it: Anton Shunin, Alexei Berezutski, Andrei Yeshchenko, Alexander Anyukov, Igor Denisov, Dmitry Tarasov, Alexander Samedov, Denis Glushakov, Maksim Grigoryev, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Vladimir Bystrov, and Alan Dzagoyev.
The national team of Portugal will arrive to Moscow on October 10th. On October 11th the Portuguese team will have training in Luzhniki Stadium. It is not clear whether Cristiano Ronaldo will participate in the match: he was hurt in the Sunday match between Real and Barcelona. Nevertheless, Ronaldo will come to Moscow anyway.
“Absence of Cristiano Ronaldo is an advantage for us. Without him Russia has more chances for success,” the national team’s member, Spartak’s forward, Artem Dzyuba, told Sport-Express. “I cannot say Portugal is a super-team. A lot depends on individuals – Nani, Ronaldo. Portuguese are strong, but the match won’t be crucial. There are many games ahead. For example, Azerbaijan is not a present too. However, we have to achieve maximum at home.”
Meanwhile, football experts pay attention not to football players who will have to play the match, but to statements and behavior by the head coach of the Russian team, Fabio Capello. Almost all Russians have admitted that Don Fabio is the main star of the Russian national team and the main hope for our success. Until now the Italian expert has fulfilled these hopes. His team won previous matches, while Capello presented new squads each time and implemented surprising tactics. We hope that further games won’t become an exception.
The audience and the sporting mass media look forward seeing whether Igor Denisov will take part in this game. After his financial conflict with Zenit’s administration, the player was put aside the games of the main squad. It was also reported that Denisov might miss the match against Portugal because of an injury. It is interesting, will Capello risk and field the player who is in the center of the scandal and is criticized heavily?
