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HIDDINK: WE LIKE KERZHAKOV'S PROGRESS
Russian team head coach Guus Hiddink comments
on the choice of players for the World Championship-2010 qualifier against
Finland.
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Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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The coaching staff
unveiled the list of players, who will prepare for the World Championship-2010
qualifier against Finland yesterday.
"Maybe the main news is that Alexandr Kerzhakov returns to the national
team after more than one year and a half break. We decided to invite him,
because he deserved it by his performance", said Hiddink to Sport
Express. "I watched several his latest matches. Moreover my assistants
also mentioned his progress".
"I perfectly know his qualities and capabilities and I see that he
is close to his peak form now. I can say that he is Alexandr Kerzhakov,
whom we all want to see".
"Last week I phoned Alexandr and I have only positive impressions
on our talk. I suppose he will surely help the national team".
"Evgeny Aldonin also played on a very high level this season. I received
favorable reviews on his display and I also watched DVDs of CSKA games.
By the way I spoke to him too and he didn't hide his happiness on returning
to the team".
"Vladimir Bystrov was not at his best form at the end of the previous
season. This year we didn't ca him for our training session in Turkey
and matches with Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein".
"However Spartak man improved his form considerably and we decided
to invite him to the national team this time".
"Mamaev is the only one debutant in our team, I watched him playing
in CSKA in the Russian championship and UEFA Cup last season. Now Mamaev
has a constant place in the club lineup demonstrating very attractive
football".
Guus Hiddink capped 20 players and returned Vladimir Bystrov, Evgeny Aldonin
and Alexandr Kerzhakov to the national side. The coaches also invited
one debutant - CSKA midfielder Pavel Mamaev, while his teammate Alan Dzagoev
was not awarded with invitation. Three Lokomotiv leaders Diniyar Bilyaletdinov,
Dmitry Torbinsky and Dmitry Sychev miss the roster because of injuries.
The whole list of players for the match against Finland is following:
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA), Vladimir Gabulov (Dynamo), Vyacheslav
Malafeev (Zenit);
Defenders: Alexey Berezutsky, Vasily Berezutsky, Sergey Ignashevich, Yuri
Zhirkov (all - CSKA), Denis Kolodin (Dynamo), Renat Yanbaev (Lokomotiv);
Midfielders - Evgeny Aldonin, Pavel Mamaev (both - CSKA), Vladimir Bystrov
(Spartak), Igor Denisov, Konstantin Zyryanov, Igor Semshov (all - Zenit).
Sergey Semak (Rubin);
Strikers: Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal, England), Alexandr Kerzhakov (Dynamo),
Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham, England), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Zenit)
Players will start pre-match preparations on June 3.
Sport
Express Daily, 27 May 2009
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