Translated material
Fatal luck
The Finns took part in the successful season of the Russian national team
The Russian national football team completed a successful 2008 with dignity. The next time our national team will meet only in February. And before the winter holidays , Russia defeated the Finnish national team in a qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup - 3:0, once again making it clear that it was not going to be content with only the “bronze” of Euro 2008 . And proving that Guus Hiddink's supply of luck is far from exhausted: all three times when the ball ended up in the Finnish goal net, the visiting team players were the last to touch it.The Russian national team had an interesting year. It began with a crushing defeat from the Romanians in a friendly match, and ended with an equally large victory over the Finns in the official game. Over the course of this season, the Russian team has risen from the third ten in the FIFA world rankings to a quite respectable 9th place, and its head coach Hiddink is already recognized as the man of the year in Russia by a variety of organizations. But most importantly, the country got a real team that can afford to win on class. And if previously only a few European national teams had their own generally accepted proper names, such as Italy - Squadra Azzurra, France - Les Blues, and Germany - Bundesteam, then in Europe after this year Hiddink’s team It is customary to call it in the Russian manner - Sbornaya.
“We really count on the support of the fans, who even after the defeat from Germany received us well,” Guus Hiddink said before the match and he was not mistaken: the stands of the Lokomotiv stadium at the match with the Finnish national team, which is not at all among the top teams , were filled to capacity. This is perhaps one of his most important achievements in Russia. Even bronze medals at the European Championships are worth little if only a few thousand people enjoy them. There were no empty seats in Cherkizovo yesterday. This means that the Dutchman managed to create a truly national team for Russia.
The last match of the year for the Russian team, despite the big score, was not easy, as, indeed, all the games this season. It was clear that Guus Hiddink, in order not to spoil the impressions of the whole year, urged his team in the last match, first of all, to act carefully in defense. The coaching staff, in turn, refused any experiments. The usual line-up took to the field at Lokomotiv Stadium with Yuri Zhirkov as a defender and an extremely busy middle line, where the injured Dmitry Torbinsky was replaced by yesterday’s debutant Igor Denisov. And this emphasized respect for the opponent yielded results - the Finnish team was not able to create a single moment at Igor Akinfeev’s goal that could with full responsibility be called a scoring one. Usually the players of our team are very proud of such matches where the opponent does not have a single chance.
Over the course of this year, the Russian national team has learned not only to act strictly and concentratedly in defense, but also acquired its own signature in attack. Hiddink's most striking tactical innovation this season - the transfer of the nominal midfielder Zhirkov to flank defenders - only diversified his creative actions. As a result, the army man’s raids on the left flank became the signature weapon of the Russian team, against which few in Europe can find an antidote. The Finns are no exception. An elegant combination played by Arshavin and Zhirkov on the flank ended with the latter's cross into the center of the penalty area, where Pasanen, ahead of Pogrebnyak, sent the ball into his own net.
The Finns also scored the second goal themselves, again completing the signature attack of the Russians. Already in the middle of the second half, Saenko, having already broken through the right flank, made a pass to the far post. From there Zyryanov already crossed, and the Finnish national team player Lampi put an end to this combination - 2:0.
The third ball in the national team’s goal also came after touching the Finnish defender. But even if you wanted to, you can’t call it an own goal - this ball has a full-fledged author. Andrei Arshavin, confirming the status he has earned this season as the first star of Russian football, elegantly beat two defenders, calmly dribbled around the goalkeeper and sent the ball into the goal. The defender, who tried to interrupt his flight, only slightly adjusted his trajectory, adding beauty to the last goal of this season.
Sborna, which has everything - fans, coach, game, star and luck - ended this year as befits a real team.