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RUSSIA VS. WALES TODAY
Today Russia is playing Wales in the qualifying round of the World
championship 2010 in Moscow.
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Photo: english.sport-express.ru
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The Russian team is going to be a favourite in today's
match. It is not the time when Russia and Wales were fighting for getting
into the final stage of championships. The Welsh team is not that good
and the team under reins of Guus Hiddink has uprised in the world rankings.
Nevertheless the head coach of the Russian team looked very serious at
the yesterday's pre-match press-conference.
"It is rather bad for Wales that such players as Bellamy, Gabbidon
and Koumas won't play," said Hiddink. "But that does not mean
that it is easier for us. That often happens that the substituting players
are no worse than the ones of the main squad and they are definitely more
up to the game. Moreover in the world there is no more difference between
small and big football countries. On Saturday we could see that Italy
managed to win Cyprus only in extra-time."
"That is true that Tottenham sent us a fax asking us to spare Pavlyuchenko,
but our doctors approved of his playing. He has fully recovered after
the injury. Roman is ready to play and he proves it on the trainings.
Nobody is secured from an injury; I can get injured when stumbling over
the step while leaving this press-center."
When the Russian team starts their qualification series with a home match
they have never lost before, we have four victories and two draws. Wales
and Russia played each other for seven times: three victories, three draws
and one defeat for Russia. But while at home we have never lost to the
Welsh.
The head coach of the Welsh team John Toshack said at the press conference
that Russia is a favourite.
"Russia together with Germany is a favourite of the group,"
said Toshack. "The Russians started rather poorly at Euro 2008 but
then they solved all their problems and showed wonderful football against
Holland."
"We are paying special attention to the forward who has left for
Tottenham [Pavlyuchenko] and to another powerful forward [Pogrebnyak].
But the main task is to resist the midfield with Arshavin at the head.
I hope we won't let them play their favourite give-and-go football."
Toshak has also informed that Carl Fletcher participation in the match
is questionable and plained about the absence of Koumas.
Sport
Express Daily, 10 Sep 2008
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