| Valery Gazzaev decided on only three details The Russian national team began preparing for the next match of the qualifying round for the 2004 European Championship. Gazzaev's team will have a meeting with the leader of our group - Switzerland. Just a couple of months ago, the Russian team was considered the undisputed favorite in the fight for first place in the group. But now a defeat from the Swiss will put an end to all hopes of making it to the continental championship.
“You shouldn’t exaggerate,” the head coach of our team, Valery Gazzaev, notes in response to this statement. - Even if this happens, there will be no collapse. But now no one in the team is thinking about defeat, everyone is determined to win. However, if there is a draw, we won’t regret it either, since it will help us eventually get to the European Championship.”
What, or rather, who can Gazzaev count on now? The head coach does not hide that he will choose between Ovchinnikov and Mandrykin as the main goalkeepers. “We invited young Akinfeev as a third goalkeeper so that he would have the opportunity to train with the best football players in the country. Although a lot can happen in five days, and Akinfeev will go to Basel and not stay in Moscow, as planned,” Gazzaev noted.
As always, the defense will be cemented by Viktor Onopko, whose club Rayo Vallecano has already entered the second division of the Spanish championship. “I definitely won’t stay at Rayo,” Onopko told our correspondent. — I have a special clause in my contract, according to which after the team’s relegation I become a free agent. Now I’m waiting for offers, the transfer market in Spain opens in mid-June, and then I’ll negotiate. For now, all thoughts are about the national team.” Gazzaev has not yet decided who will accompany Onopko in defense. Here are the Berezutsky brothers, Ignashevich, and Yuri Kovtun, who returned to the national team, whom Gazzaev called a debutant.
The coaching staff has the richest range of midfielders. But this is only at first glance. Only Smertin’s position is no longer questioned even by Gazzaev. He stated that he would be entrusted with the captain's armband. As for the rest, there is something to puzzle over. Gusev traditionally plays unsuccessfully for the national team. Semshov’s debut in Gazzaev’s team, planned for the match with Georgia, never took place. Solomatin and rookie Bystrov can compete for a place on the left flank with one of the best scorers of the Russian championship Karyaka.
There is no doubt about one thing - Sergei Semak will definitely appear on the field, whom Gazzaev speaks of as a player who can single-handedly make a result. Who will help him in the attack is again unclear. There are one-dimensional Bulykin and Popov, there is Sychev. But it may also happen that the team will again enter the match without nominal forwards. “We can release five strikers, will that be any good? - Gazzaev responds to criticism. “The main thing is that the whole team plays aggressively in attack and faultlessly in defense.”
Valery Gazzaev still has time until Saturday to make his final choice. And let’s hope that the coaching staff will be able to create a solid structure from generally good parts. Andrey VDOVIN |
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