Translated material
Thirst for destruction
Russia beat Luxembourg with a score of 5:1
The fate of second place in the third European qualifying group for the 2006 FIFA World Cup will be decided on October 12 in the meeting between Slovakia and Russia. Moreover, our team in Bratislava will be satisfied with only one result - a victorious one. This is precisely the conclusion that can be drawn after the Russians beat Luxembourg with a score of 5:1.On the eve of the match with the national team of the Grand Duchy, it became clear through simple calculations: in order for our team to feel confident in the meeting with Slovakia, that is, to afford the indulgence of a draw in Bratislava, it is necessary to win against Luxembourg with a double-digit score. Both the coaching staff led by Yuri Semin and the players had a hard time believing in the reality of such a victory. Even though Luxembourg is a clear outsider of the group, even if it conceded 41 goals in ten matches, even if its ranks are filled entirely with players for whom football is a hobby and not a professional job. There were no anti-shap sentiments in the camp of the Russian national team. It probably turned out for the best.
And in general, did our team need a victory, say, 10:0? After all, everyone has long known that Russia achieves results, as a rule, in those matches when its position is slightly better than catastrophic. There is always a place for heroic deeds in life. But do the double-digit victory over Luxembourg and the feat have much in common? But while coaches and players have long stopped believing in fairy tales, fans always remain romantics. That is why in the arena of the capital's Lokomotiv stadium there was a more than impressive audience for the match against the frankly weak Luxembourg - two tens of thousands of spectators. The stands, painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, fiercely supported their team. They called on us to attack and score.
The noise from the audience had an effect not only on the Russians, but also on the Luxembourgers. The guests did not stand like a wall in their own penalty area, but boldly moved forward, earning two corners in the first minutes, forcing our goalkeeper Akinfeev to seriously enter the game. However, the activity of Guy Ellers' team resulted in them not scoring goals, but conceding them. The Russians succeeded in three good attacks. Two were completed with effective shots from Izmailov and Kerzhakov, and in the third, Anyukov shook the visiting goalkeeper’s right post with a powerful blow.
Having secured a lead in the score, our team slowed down somewhat. The ball was kept mainly in the center of the field, where it was played among themselves by an impressive group of midfielders led by Loskov. Dmitry entered this match with the captain's armband, taking the problematic position of defensive midfielder in the absence of the disqualified Smertin and Aldonin. Loskov was helped by Semshov and Izmailov, who took the place of insiders, and the flanks were controlled by Gusev and Anyukov.
The second half started discouragingly for our team. In the 51st minute, Luxembourg national team striker Mannon fired a weak shot from outside the penalty area towards the goal. The ball hit Sennikov's hand. Romanian referee Alexandre Dan Tudor pointed to the penalty spot without any doubt. Under the indignant roar of the stands, number five of the guests, Reiter, confidently sent the ball into the net.
This precise strike caused celebration among the six Luxembourg journalists who arrived in Moscow to cover the game. Two of them began to hug, and the third proudly raised his hand in the air, after which he began to joyfully and fiercely tap his fingers on the keyboard of his laptop, enjoying the happy moment...
Yuri Semin ruined the holiday for the subjects of the Grand Duchy. The head coach of our team got it right with the substitutions, giving a pair of forwards Pavlyuchenko and Kirichenko the opportunity to prove themselves. Both of them made good use of the time allotted to them. Spartak player Pavlyuchenko scored our team's third goal, effectively sending the ball into Gillet's goal while falling, and Moscow striker Kirichenko scored a brace. After the game, Dmitry clarified the situation regarding his contract with the “citizens”. In an interview published in our newspaper on Friday, his words were misinterpreted. Kirichenko has a current contract with FC Moscow and does not intend to leave this club.
Journalists from Luxembourg were in a sad mood at the press conference. According to them, they went to Moscow in the hope that their team would lose with a difference of no more than three goals. Such a result would be considered successful in the Grand Duchy. After the match, the entire Luxembourg team ran circles around the field of the Lokomotiv stadium. This is the punishment for a crushing defeat. Teachers, bankers and builders, defending the honor of their small country in their free time, were not embarrassed by shouts from the stands, bravura songs, or video showing the goals of the Russian team on the scoreboard.
I would like the Russian team to prepare just as calmly and confidently for the match with the Slovaks, who in turn won a difficult victory over Estonia - 1:0. Our national team has potential. All that remains is to reveal it next Wednesday in a situation where there is nowhere else to retreat.