|
Hiddink warns Russia of tough Wales test
By Paul Abbandonato
| |
|
|
Photo: russiablog.org
|
RUSSIA manager Guus Hiddink outlined the no-nonsense approach
he takes in club versus country conflicts by ignoring Tottenham Hotspur's
request not to play £14m man Roman Pavlyuchenko against Wales tonight.
Star striker Pavlyuchenko has been nursing an ankle injury and Spurs sent
a fax to the Russian FA at the start of the week demanding that he is
left out of the big World Cup showdown in Moscow.
But Hiddink insisted Pavlyuchenko plays and said: 'As far as I'm concerned,
he is fit enough to start.
'If he gets injured again, so be it. But he will do what he has to do
for his country.'
Hiddink's strict stance towards Pavlyuchenko is in stark contrast to the
one Wales adopted over hamstring injury victim Craig Bellamy, who has
been left out tonight, even though he played and scored in the Premiership
11 days ago.
West Ham put pressure on Wales not to pick Bellamy and the skipper was
sent back to his club for treatment while the rest of his Welsh team-mates
went into World Cup battle.
But Hiddink outlined why Russia were refusing to buckle to Tottenham's
demands, saying: 'We had a letter from Spurs, who are worried about Pavlyuchenko's
ankle.
'But our medics have assessed the player and, as far as they are concerned,
he is fit.
'I must trust our own medical people and I think there is over-concern
on the part of Tottenham.
'If Spurs think Pavlyuchenko will get injured again and won't be fit for
their next Premiership game, and we started worrying about that sort of
thing, then we would end up never playing anyone.
'Anyone can get injured in any game. It's part of football.'
Hiddink, who took his team to the semi-finals at Euro 2008, warned Russia
that Wales will not be the cannon fodder the locals expect.
'I know they are without a lot of players, including Bellamy, Koumas and
Gabbidon. These are big-name players who are important figures to the
team,' said Hiddink.
'But sometimes, in circumstances like this, it simply makes the replacements
who come into the team in their places even more motivated to do well
and prove they should be in the side for the next game.
'We are fully aware of the work John Toshack has done with Wales, turning
them from a team in transition to a side full of energy and fight.
'They took points off the Czech Republic and Germany in the last qualifying
campaign, which says a lot.'
Hiddink believes Russia need a fast start tonight to put pressure on group
favourites Germany.
'This group will be difficult and it's important we start with a win over
Wales,' said the Dutchman.
'Germany always seem to qualify, sometimes I don't know how, but they
do. So if we want to finish top, we must start with three points.
'The players know that and are aware we have to build on what we achieved
in reaching the last four at Euro 2008.
'There is pressure upon us to follow that success by making the next step
in the World Cup.
'I sense that for the first time in many years, there is a connection
between the Russian team and the Russian public.
'It is a beautiful moment and we need to use it to continue the progress
of the national team and the club sides.'
But Hiddink cautioned: 'In modern football, the gap between the bigger
countries and the smaller ones is not as great as it once was.
'You only have to look at some of the close scorelines from the games
played last weekend to appreciate that.
'The smaller teams, like Wales, organise themselves well and make it very
difficult.
'Scores like 3-0, 4-0, 5-0 don't happen very often these days, so let's
be patient and make sure we get the three points.'
WalesOnline.co.uk,
Sep 10 2008
|
|
