Party-boy Kokorin recalled by Russia

Moscow: Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov has recalled Zenit St Petersburg forward Alexander Kokorin from the international wilderness to his 27-man squad to play friendlies with South Korea and Iran in October. The 2018 World Cup hosts will take on South Korea in Moscow on October 7, while the friendly with Iran will take place in Kazan three days later. Last season, Kokorin was overlooked because of lacklustre performances with his club but also because of off-pitch behaviour that Cherchesov labelled improper for a national team player. “A national team player should show professionalism both on and off the pitch,” Cherchesov told Russian television at the time.