| HIDDINK: I COUNT ON ARSHAVIN AND ZHIRKOV
Today the Russian national team starts preparation
to the matches of the World Cup qualification against Liechtenstein and
Wales in Moscow.
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Guus Hiddink Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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Russia meets Liechtenstein on 5 September in St. Petersburg
and Wales on 9 September in Cardiff. Our team will train at the Streltsov
Stadium in Moscow till Thursday, then fly to St. Petersburg and on 7 September
move to Wales.
The head coach of the Russian team Guus Hiddink arrived in Russia last
Saturday and visited several matches of the Russian Premier League.
In Russia Hiddink learnt some bad news about injures of Andrey Arshavin
and Denis Kolodin and both these players were capped for the coming matches.
Moreover the state of Yuriy Zhirkov also gives rise to worries. He started
to train in the main group in Chelsea only a week ago. Yuriy's last official
match was the one against Finland on 10 June. And after that he played
in one friendly against AC Milan at the end of June.
"Injures and suspensions are an integral part of football,"
commented the Dutch specialist. "These things cannot be changed."
"They always haunt any team so one needs only to adapt to the circumstances.
I never complaint about the fate."
"Kolodin won't come to the training camp. I have seen the match Krylya
Sovetov vs. Dynamo and understood at once that the defender got seriously
injured and he would not be able to help the national squad in September
matches."
"It is a pity he would play, I really counted on Denis. When he is
in good form this player can bring much good to the team."
"I cannot deny there are also troubles with Arshavin. I saw the match
Manchester United vs. Arsenal on TV. Arshavin scored a nice goal but at
the end Arsene Wenger was forced to substitute Andrey."
"I think I should be patient and wait for the development of this
situation. Probably the player will have to rest for several days. But
anyway I count on Arshavin's help."
"As well as on Zhirkov. He has fully recovered and already joined
the main group in Chelsea. Of course I am worried because Yuriy had no
official matches played in his new club."
"But I spoke to representatives of the club and learnt that the injury
does not hurt him any more. He worked hard at the trainings and I am sure
he will gain good form. Of course he lacks playing rhythm but I repeat
that I fully count on him."
"At the moment we are not going to invite any other player to the
national team. We capped 23 footballers exactly because we wanted some
space for maneuver."
"If we feel that the players are not enough then we will probably
call up somebody else. But at the moment there is on need."
Sport
Express Daily, 01 Sep 2009
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