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RUSSIA EXPECTS UNEASY CLASH IN CARDIFF TONIGHT
Guus Hiddink takes Russian national side to Cardiff
for the crunch game against Wales in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign
tonight.
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Russia vs. Wales, Moscow, September 10, 2008
Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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There is a special brilliance to international football,
where allegiances to club are cast aside for the honour and glory of representing
ones homeland. Clubs will rise and fall just as players will shift sides
for any number of reasons but for those who have been bestowed the honour
of wearing the crest of their homeland, it is something that they hold
dear to them throughout their lives. The hunger that burns inside of those
with noble intent of bringing honour to the flag is unsurpassed and brings
out the absolute best that the sport has to offer.
Qualifying for the World Cup is far from an easy test and with the quality
of the sport continuously building throughout the world, no country is
guaranteed an easy route into the tournament. Leading into the final stages
of qualification, there are a number of the sports powerhouses that could
be watching the World Cup that further stresses this point. It would a
stunning commentary of the sports worldwide development if luminaries
such as Argentina, France or Portugal are missing but such is the case
in a very unpredictable and heavily contested qualification period.
From the moment Group 4 was drawn in November 2007, most assumed the battle
for the top spot would be between Russia and mighty Germany and without
fail, the two great sides are on a collision course. However long before
Germany visits Luzhniki in October, Russia faces a stubborn test against
Wales in Cardiff with winning their only option. Failure to win in Cardiff
would put Russia in the unenviable situation of winning a berth via the
playoff stage.
Guus Hiddink's knows the formidable problems the Welsh side will pose
as Russia needed a late strike by Pavel Pogrebnyak to win last years encounter
at Lokomotiv Stadium 2-1. Despite being plagued with a number of injuries
and a host of teenagers in the line-up, Wales did well to lock down the
Russian attack for much of the day. Though John Toshack's Welsh side have
had a great deal of problems in the attacking end, they are a team of
vast potential that could drive the Dragons to great heights in years
to come. Russia will have to deal with a highly disciplined tactical approach
that will allow few opportunities and pounce on Guus Hiddink's over commitment
with quick counter offensives. The hosts are further bolstered with the
return of central defenders Danny Gabbidon and James Collins and dangerous
Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy but will miss Simon Davies, Andy
King, Lewin Nyatanga, Jason Koumas, newly retired from international football,
along with questions on the availability of Simon Church and Jack Collison.
Though Russia is hopeful that the injured trio Andrey Arshavin, Denis
Kolodin and Yuriy Zhirkov can recover in-time for the match, they will
need to adjust their tactical plan to do without Igor Denisov who misses
due to suspension. From Guus Hiddink's vantage, Saturday's 3-0 result
over Liechtenstein at Petrovsky Stadium was a mixed affair where his side
showed good attacking spirit in the opening forty-five minutes but for
the most part suffered the all-too frequent finishing problems. Tempered
with a top-shelf bold attacking spirit, Russia was unable to close out
the majority of their chances and it is no telling what the final score
could have been if they possessed the needed touch. This concern must
reign supreme for the manager as it is unlikely Wales will provide many
high probability opportunities and Russia cannot squander any openings
in they are to return home with the three points.
Prepared by Sport Express correspondent John Davies
Sport
Express Daily, 09 Sep 2009
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