Russia Schedule & Results | Scouting Report | Road to Euro 2004

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Style of Play:
Russia plays a disciplined, at times overly-cautious and tentative brand of soccer. Coach Georgi Yartsev’s team takes few offensive chances, and instead rely on its stay-at-home defence to keep things tight at the back. Russia usually plays with a standard 4-4-2 formation, but considering its lack of defensive depth due to a spate of recent injuries, a cautious Yartsev is expected to field a more defensive 4-5-1 lineup. In this formation, the back four is supported by a central midfielder (Alexei Smertin) playing in front of them as a defensive screen. There’s a chance that Smertin will drop back as central defender, in light of the injuries to defensive stalwarts Viktor Onopko and Sergie Ignashevich that knocked them off the squad. Attacks are launched from the middle of the park where a duo of central midfielders (Alexander Mostovoi and either Dmitri Loskov or Smertin), serve as the link between the defenders and the wingers (Rolan Gusev on the right and Andrei Karyaka on the left) who are responsible for feeding the ball to the lone striker (Dmitri Bulykin).

Strengths:
Tenacity – Forget about the stereotype of the cold, passionless Russian athlete. This Russian side has plenty of heart. After suffering embarrassing losses to Albania and Georgia in qualifying, Russia stormed back to clinch second place in Group 10 and then secured its place at Euro 2004 by earning a 1-0 playoff win against Wales on the road.

Solid midfield – Although somewhat lacking in depth, Russia’s midfield boasts a wide variety of skilled players. Alexander Mostovoi, inconsistent at times he may be, is a brilliant playmaker; Rolan Gusev is a threat on the right wing; Dmitri Alenichev is noted for his threatening runs; and Dmitri Loskov and Alexei Smertin are both commanding figures in the centre.

History – The Russians have a proven track record of achievement at Euro, winning the inaugural tournament in 1960. Finalists in 1964, 1972 and 1988, and semifinalists in 1968, Russia always seems to overachieve at Euro, no matter how many critics write them off. This year’s team will honour the Russian squads that came before them with dogged determination.

Weaknesses:
Defence– The Russian defence is in arrears. Starting central defenders Viktor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevitch had to pull out due to knee problems. This is a crushing blow as the veteran defenders anchored the back line. Coach Yartsev was forced to select Alexander Anyukov, Alexei Bugayev and Roman Sharonov, all of whom only recently made their national team debuts! The loss of Onopko and Ignashevitch also means that Russia is only carrying five natural defenders on the team, with Vadim Evseev being the only one with any kind of international experience.

Titov factor – The loss of former captain Yegor Titov due to a 12-month drug ban is bad news for the Russians, as the Spartak Moscow midfielder brought a lot of class, quality and inspiration to the side. Titov’s suspension, coupled with the loss of Onopko and Ignashevitch, means Russia will sorely be lacking veteran leadership on the field.

Tough group – Like Greece, the draw was not kind to Russia, as they were grouped with host-nation Portugal and Spain, two of the favourites to win the tournament. Both of those teams, brimming with world-class players who ply their trade in the top European leagues, pose as giant obstacles for a Russian team relying almost exclusively on players who play in Russia’s non-descript domestic league.

Key Players to watch:
Alexei Smertin – The sparkplug that drives the engine room of the Russian team, Alexei Smertin is the key player in midfield. Russia’s attack hinges on him, as Smertin operates as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four, while at the same time leading the attack from midfield with his precise, inch-perfect passes.

Dmitri Bulykin – This tall, speed striker is coach Georgi Yartsev’s first-choice selection to play up front for good reason. The Dynamo Moscow hit-man terrorizes defenders with his height, power and attacking skills, and doesn’t mind dropping back from time to time to lend his defenders a hand.

Rolan Gusev – A capable right midfielder who draws comparisons to David Beckham because of his free-kick prowess and his tantalizing crosses. Although criticized for his work ethic at times, Gusev is known for his inventive play and for scoring the odd goal.

Key injuries/squad omissions:
Former captain Yegor Titov was not selected as he is still serving a 12-month ban after testing positive for the banned stimulant bromantan. Veterans Viktor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevitch – Russia’s first-choice partnership in central defence – had to pull out due to injury. The loss of these two players is absolutely devastating, as Russia, already lacking defensive depth, will only be carrying five defenders in Portugal. Also unable to crack the team due to injury was striker Aleksandr Panov. Winger Denis Boyarintsev was passed over in favour of Igor Semshov and Vladimir Bystrov. Key playmaker Dmitri Loskov is suffering from back problems but is still expected to play in Portugal.

Prognosis:
Spain and Portugal are clearly the favourites in this group to progress to the next round. Russia, devastated by injuries, the loss of their captain and a threadbare defence, has no chance of making it out of Group B alive, especially when you consider they have to play Spain and Portugal in its first two games. The Russians simply can’t contain the quality of strikers and attacks the Spaniards and Portuguese posses. They’ll be beaten badly and by the time they face Greece, all the life will have been sucked out of them. Their place in the Group C basement as the fourth-place team is a forgone conclusion.

Current FIFA Ranking: #30

First-round matches:
June 12 vs. Spain (Faro-Loulé)
June 16 vs. Portugal (Lisbon)
June 20 vs. Greece (Faro-Loulé)

Euro 2004 qualification route:
Finished 2nd in qualifying Group 10 (14 points) behind Switzerland (15 points); and then defeated Wales in a two-game playoff, winning 1-0 on aggregate.

Record in qualifying: 5 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses
Goals for: 20 Goals against: 12

Qualifying results:
09.07.2002 - Russia 4 Republic of Ireland 2
10.16.2002 - Russia 4 Albania 1
03.29.2003 - Albania 3 Russia 1
04.30.2003 - Georgia 1 Russia 0
06.07.2003 – Russia 2 Switzerland 2
09.06.2003 – Russia 1 Republic of Ireland 1
09.10.2003 – Russia 4 Switzerland 1
10.11.2003 – Russia 3 Northern Ireland 1
11.15.2003 – Russia 0 Wales 0
11.19.2003 – Russia 1 Wales 0

Number of Previous Euro Appearances: 8
All-time record: 31 GP -- 14 W, 8 D, 9 L Goals for: 44 Goals against: 33
Biggest defeat: 0-3 vs. Germany in 1996 and 1972, vs. Scotland in 1988
Biggest victory: 3-0 vs. Yugoslavia in 1972, vs. Denmark in 1964, vs. Spain and Czechoslovakia in 1960

Euro History:
1960 – CHAMPIONS
1964 – runners-up
1968 – semifinals
1972 – runners-up
1976 – quarter-finals
1980 – did not qualify
1984 – did not qualify
1988 – runners-up
1992 – first round
1996 – first round
2000 - did not qualify

Other Achievements:
World Cup semi-finalists: 1966 in England
Olympic Gold Medal: 1956 in Melbourne and 1988 in Seoul
Olympic Bronze Medal: 1972 in Munich, 1976 in Montreal, 1980 in Moscow

Greatest Players:
Lev Yashin: Regarded as the greatest goalkeeper of all-time, Lev Yashin is credited with modernizing the position. Yashin represented his country 78 times between 1954 and 1967, playing in three World Cups, and lead the Soviet Union to the semifinals of the 1966 World Cup.

Oleg Blokhin: Oleg Blokhin was a superb striker with Dynamo Kiev from 1970 to 1987, leading the club to eight Russian league titles. He scored 42 goals in 112 appearances for the Russian national team and was voted European Player of the Year in 1975.