Dubai: Coach Fabio Capello was much maligned during his ill-fated time in charge of the England national team, but in Russia he has been well received.
The studious Italian has moulded a squad filled with talented, if not quite world class, players into an impressive unit that out-qualified Portugal and heads to Brazil with the potential to surprise.
Capello endured an interminable World Cup four years ago with England, as the Three Lions scored just three goals in four games in South Africa and were thoroughly outclassed by Germany in the last 16. With Russia, however, the 67-year-old looks to have found a happy balance between his natural Italian cautiousness and his players’ tendency to overload in attack. In qualifying, they scored 20 goals in 10 games and conceded just five.
At the last major tournament — Euro 2012 — Russia showed their ability to implode as Dick Advocaat’s side somehow failed to progress from their group despite beating the Czech Republic 4-1 in their first match.
Alan Dzagoev scored twice in that impressive win and the CSKA Moscow playmaker will again be crucial if Russia are to make an impact in Brazil. Alongside him, former Arsenal star Andrei Arshavin has been overlooked in favour of youth, with Alexander Kokorin particularly impressive and Oleg Shatov starting to make an impact.
They suffered a severe blow just a week before the tournament when captain and midfield stalwart Roman Shirokov was ruled out through injury, but still Russian fans can be hopeful of progressing from a group that also contains Belgium, South Korea and Algeria.
Capello summed up his philosophy ahead of the World Cup by saying: “I am an optimist. I always try to think positively and always want more. I always want to reach a new level as much as it is possible and my players should also think in this way.”
Russia
Group H
Fifa Ranking: 18
Top man
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Alan Dzagoev |
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Coach
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Fabio Capello |
Best 11 (4-5-1)
Akinfeev; Kombarov, Berezutskiy, Ignashevich, Yeshchenko; Shatov, Kokorin, Denisov, Faizulin, Dzagoev; Kerzhakov
Squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Yury Lodygin (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Sergei Ryzhikov (Rubin Kazan)
Defenders: Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, Georgy Shchennikov (all CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Granat, Alexei Kozlov (both Dynamo Moscow), Andrei Yeshchenko (Anzhi Makhachkala), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow), Andrei Semenov (Terek Grozny)
Midfielders: Igor Denisov, Yury Zhirkov (both Dynamo Moscow), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Roman Shirokov (FC Krasnodar), Denis Glushakov (Spartak Moscow), Viktor Faizulin, Oleg Shatov (both Zenit Saint Petersburg)
Forwards: Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Alexei Ionov, Alexander Kokorin (both Dynamo Moscow), Maxim Kanunnikov (Amkar Perm), Alexander Samedov (Lokomotiv Moscow)
Group opponents
South Korea
Belgium
Algeria
Qualifying campaign
Topped Uefa qualifying Group F ahead of Portugal with 22 points from 10 games.
World Cup history
First tournament: 1994 (in USA)
Appearances (before 2014): 2
Best finish: Group stage (1994, 2002)
Pros
- Gifted attackers such as Alan Dzagoev and Alexander Kokorin are capable of unlocking the tightest of defences.
- Tight defence conceded just five goals in qualifying to surprisingly finish above Portugal.
- The entire squad is based in Russia so could spring a surprise on anyone not accustomed to their domestic championship.
Cons
- Losing captain Roman Shirokov to injury on the eve of the tournament was a big blow.
- Fabio Capello suffered a poor tournament as England coach in 2010.
- Experienced centre-backs Sergey Ignashevich and Vasili Berezutskiy lack pace, while striker Alexander Kerzhakov is past his best.
