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Russia warm up for Euros with Bulgarian test
Russia's new Dutch coach Dick Advocaat will test his squad in a friendly
match at home to Bulgaria in St Petersburg on Wednesday ahead of their
2012 European championship's campaign.
The Russian Football Union (RFU) moved the match to Saint Petersburg because
of heavy smog from wildfires in the suburbs of Moscow which cloaked the
capital's air with toxic particles, raising concerns about public health.
"It's impossible to play in Moscow under existing conditions. It
can be dangerous for the players' health," said RFU chief Sergei
Fursenko.
The RFU chief also said the decision to transfer the match to St Petersburg
had been approved by the Bulgarian football federation.
For his team's first test ahead of their Euro 2012 campaign Advocaat has
called on only proven names who featured in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers
under his predecessor, fellow Dutchman Guus Hiddink.
"The players remain the same," Advocaat said. "But we will
make certain changes in the system of play. And we will definitely make
some tactical changes.
"The match with Bulgaria is very important for us," Advocaat
added.
"I need to understand how the players react on my demands. That especially
concerns those players who previously did not work with me."
The 62-year-old coach, who led Zenit St Petersburg to the Russian title
in 2007, called five of the club's top players into his squad.
However, Zenit midfielders Igor Denisov and Vladimir Bystrov will both
have to miss the Bulgarian showdown after withdrawing from the squad through
injury.
Forwards Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko, both based in the English
Premier League, will likely spearhead Russia in Wednesday's match along
with German Bundesliga side Stuttgart striker Pavel Pogrebnyak.
In their Euro 2012 qualifying Group B, Russia were paired with Slovakia,
the Republic of Ireland, FYR Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.
They open their programme on September 3 away to Andorra.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com,
Aug 10, 2010
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