RUSSIA - LATVIA - 2:0 (0:0)
June 4 2005.
Qualification World Cup 2006.
Sankt-Petersburg. Petrovskiy stadium. 21575.
Referee Eric Poulat (France).
Russia: Igor Akinfeev, Alexey Berezutskiy, Vasiliy Berezutskiy, Alexei
Smertin (ê), Yuri Zhirkov, Alexander Anukov, Igor Semshov (Dmitri Sennikov,
67), Evgeni Aldonin (Vladimir Bystrov, 56), Andrey Arshavin (Marat Izmailov,
81), Dmitri Loskov, Aleksandr Kerzhakov.
Head Coach Yuri Syomin.
Latvia: Andrejs Piedels, Igor Stepanovs, Vitalijs Astafjevs (ê), Maris
Smirnovs, Juris Laizans, Dzintars Zirnis, Aleksandrs Isakovs (Zavoronkovs,
84), Imants Bleidelis, Maris Verpakovskis, Andrejs Rubins, Andrejs Prohorenkovs
(Vitas Rimkus, 80).
Head Coach Yuri Andreyev.
Scorers: Andrey Arshavin (57), Dmitri Loskov (78 - pen).
Yellow Cards: Dzintars Zirnis (37), Aleksandrs Isakovs (39), Alexei Smertin
(63), Dmitri Loskov (65), Maris Smirnovs (70), Andrejs Piedels (77).
RUSSIAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH CONCERNED ABOUT DEFENSE
At a press conference after the game between the Russian and the Latvian
teams in the framework of the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier round, Russian
National soccer team coach Yuri Semin expressed his concern about the
quality of the team's defense.
Evgeni Aldonin and Vitalijs Astafjevs (#3).
Photo Reuters.
"We cannot allow so many counter-attacks. I am mostly
concerned about our defensive line," Semin said, adding that during
the preparation for an unofficial game between the Russian and the German
national soccer teams (June 8, in Munichgladbach), the team will consider
"other tactical options."
Semin also stated he was happy with the result of the game against the
Latvian national team. "I am very satisfied with the result of the
match. We made a lot of mistakes, but the result is good. I would like
to mention that the players were determined to win," he said.
In his turn, the coach of the Latvian national team Yuri Andreyev congratulated
Semin with the victory and wished the Russian national team good luck,
" but not in the current round, because the teams remain rivals at
present." "It is a pity that we haven't scored. We should have
scored even when we were losing 2:0," Andreyev added. He also said
Semin was capable of bringing the Russian team to the "European level."
The 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier game between Russia and Latvia took
place in St. Petersburg at the Petrovsky Stadium on Saturday. Russia won
with the score 2:0.
