|
RUSSIAN COACHES BELIEVE IN THE NATIONAL TEAM
Russian football coaches Oleg Romantsev, Yuri
Semin, Valery Gazzaev and hockey specialist Vladimir Yurizinov share their
opinions on the 2010 World Cup qualifier match between Finland and Russia.
| |
|
|
Oleg Romantsev Photo SPORT
EXPRESS
|
The Russian national team's former head coach Oleg Romantsev
shared his point of view on the coming World Cup-2010 qualifier between
Russia and Finland.
"The European championship qualifying match against Finland back
in 1995 was the most outstanding clash against Finnish side for me",
Romantsev told Sport Express. "At that time we fired in six goals,
while our rivals couldn't reply us with at least one goal".
"We were well organized at all positions, while our midfielders Tsimbalar,
Krpin, Mostovoy and especially Kulkov, who made a double, played very
effectively in this match".
"It's especially pleasant that Finland's head coach said at post-match
press conference that they suffered a loss to one of the best teams in
Europe".
"I watched Finland in action last Saturday, when they defeated Liechtenstein.
It seemed to me that Finnish players wanted to snatch an easy victory
and could have been punished for it".
"I have no doubts that the hosts will have an absolutely different
mindset for tonight game, and our players should be ready for it".
"Absence of suspended Anyukov and possible loss of Sergey Semak are
serious troubles for the Russian side. Any changes in defence line always
create additional problems for the head coach. Hiddink is likely to replace
Anyukov with Renat Yanbaev today".
"As for Semak, he has already proved that he is the leader of our
national team. And such players are always very helpful in decisive matches".
"To my mind our team is much stronger than Finnish side. We have
more high-level players in the squad and our team is more experienced.
So I think that Russia could possible play the first-violin in Helsinki".
Lokomotiv head coach Yuri Semin expects to see attractive football from
both teams. "I want both sides to show overwhelming football and
of course I want Russian team to win this qualifier", said Semin.
"I have no doubts that we will take three points in Helsinki tonight".
"During the last days of my stay in Dynamo I discussed this qualifier
with Roman Eremenko, who believes that Finland will win. Roman is an ambitious
player, who doesn't accept failures".
"He admits that Russian roster is more experienced, however he says
that appropriate tactics will make Finland's chances for victory higher.
Moreover they play at home stands and will give their best to please their
supporters".
"I think that it's not a secret that level of our team is much higher.
If we compare eleven players from both squads, our opponents overcome
us only at one or maximum two positions".
Valery Gazzaev admitted that he had never played against Finnish teams
as a coach. "I played against Finnish side only once for Dynamo or
the Soviet youth national team", Gazzaev told Sport Express. "I
remember that game took place in Finland, but I can't recollect how it
ended".
"Finland has real chances to book a ticket to the biggest football
events for the second consecutive time and they really want to tale part
in the final stage of the 2010 World Cup".
"Last year's draw against Germany just proves that we shouldn't underestimate
Finland".
"Anyukov won't help Russia tonight, but coaches could replace him
with Alexey Berezutsky, who has been playing on the right flank last year.
The only one problem is lack of practice, but I think that his experience
could help him cope with the task".
"It's out of question that the coming match is the main event in
Finland now", said Vladimir Yurzinov. "Finland is the nation,
which always want to win".
"They have a special attitude to the matches against their neighboring
countries and Russia is the main irritator for them and beating their
biggest neighboring nation would be a great pleasure for them".
"Like in hockey the Finns are the world's trendsetters and they always
fight for the top positions. I can't say the same thing about football,
but their progress is evident. We shouldn't underestimate Finnish team,
because they are real fighters".
"Speaking about individual skills, Russian players have big advantage,
however their actions are unpredictable. Sometimes I think that our team
is a mystery even for our coaches, as we can't guess how they will play
in a particular game".
Sport
Express Daily, 10 June 2009
|
|
