Narayana Rangan's

Russia

Group A

Best finish Champions 1960

Current FIFA Ranking 13

Russia is grouped along with Czech republic, Greece and Poland in group A as the hot favorites to proceed to the the knockout stages as group winners. The team which is currently ranked 13 by Fifa had a good qualification campaign winning 7 matches and drawing 2 and emerged winners from Group B. The only lose the Russian suffered were against Slovakia. Russia were the surprise package at the 2008 Euros when they reached the semifinals. This time around the expectations are high on the Russian team. Dick Advocaat and his team would be expected to match or even outshine what Guus Hiddink did in 2008.

The Russians have a attacking unit and plays attractive football with Captain Andre Arshavin of Arsenal with the role of playmaker in the advanced attacking midfielder role. Aleksandr Kerzhakov will be playing as the striker who will be a threat to the opposition defence. The former chelsea fullback Yuri Zhirkov would be the key player for plans of Dirk Advocaat in the defence. Dirk Adocaat has been able to built up an Russian squad based on the domestic Russian league were 20 players of his squads are from Russian Priemier League.

The midfield consist of the Roman Shirokov creating the chances for the forwards and also have the ability to score the goals. The defence is lead by the experienced 32 year old Sergei Ignashevich of CSK Moscow. Russia have a reliable shot stopper in Igor Akinfeev and the opposition players would have to work hard against the defence of Russians.

Manager : Dick Advocaat

Advocaat would have a hard time as the manager of the Russian team for the Euro 2012 as he would he measured against what Guus Hiddink achieved with Russia in Euro 2008. The Dutchman have taken his home country Netherland to the semifinals in 2004 on his second stint. Dick Advocaat is tactically sound manager and likes to play attacking football. Advocaat has vast experience coaching national teams has he has previous stints with Netherland, South Korea, Belgium and the U.A.E.. Advocaat's stint with the Russians is almost sure to end with this tournament.

Advocaat's stint in Russia started after sacking of Guis Hiddink when Russia failed to qualify for the worldcup 2010 in South Africa. The task ahead of Advocaat is harder than what he has achieved by qualifying the Russian's for the Euros. Anyhow drawn in a relatively easy group and a good bunch of players Advocaat would be hoping Russia would perform well in this years Euro.

Formation

Dick Advocaat had not been too experimental with the Russian team during the qualifiers and the friendlies and has sticked with a bunch of players. The Dutch had experimeted with both 4-3-3 and 4-3-2-1 during the qualifiers and the friendlies. The man to lead the Russian attack would be the captain Andry Arshavin from the left flank and together with the former Russian young player of the year Alan Dzagoev it would a good attack for the Russians. These players in the flank would supply the needed balls to the forward Aleksandr Kerzhakov. Roman Shirokov and Konstantin Zyryanov would play in the midfield and Igor Denisov will be playing deep in the midfield as a ball winning midfielder for Russia.

In Vasili Berezutski and Sergei Ignashevich of CSKA moscow Russia will have two strong brave and hard tackling halfbacks who have formed a good defence partnership for both club and country.

Offensive fullbacks Yuri Zhirkov and Alexandr Anyukov are athletic and they have the pace and stamina to make constant threats to the oppositions by their run through the sides for the entire 90 minutes and Akinfeev at the goal it is hard for even worldclass strikers to beat him on one on one chances and the Russian number one have the reflexes to save even the unexpected.

Squad for the Euros:

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg), Anton Shunin (Dynamo Moscow).

Defenders: Alexander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexei Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Roman Sharonov (Rubin Kazan), Vladimir Granat (Dynamo Moscow), Kirill Nababkin (CSKA Moscow).

Midfielders:Igor Denisov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Yuri Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala), Alan Dzagoyev (CSKA Moscow), Igor Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Denis Glushakov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Marat Izmailov (Sporting), Dmitry Kombarov (Spartak Moscow).

Forwards: Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal), Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexander Kokorin (Dynamo Moscow), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham).

Key Players

Andry Arshavin

Even though not at his top of his game as in Euro 2008 the dribbler from Russia still has the ability to pass through the defences. The 31 year old who was on loan to his old club Zenit St Petersburg to regain his lost form is still a bet for many to do what he and the Russian squad did in Euro 2008.

He has the creativity by which he can create chances from nothing. His dribbles through the opponents were a treat to watch and that was what it made Arsene Wenger to sign him back in 2008. In form and if he raises his game by a few notches as he will when playing for Russia they will be a force to reckon with.

Alan Dzagoev

Alan Dzagoev the 22 year old playing at CSKA Moscow was once the hottest young player in Europe as his play has attracted attention of any Big western European clubs. Dzagoev is a player who pocess amoung many abilities good ball control and and excellent vison to pickup his teammates. He is as creative as his country man Arshavin and he is good in air as well as is a deadball specialist. The modest and hard-working player naturally plays as an attacking mid fielder behind the centre forward feeding the ball and looking for oppurtunities to score can also play down the right flank with the same effect. The last 2 years has not been as he would have liked this Euro could be the breakthrough for the 22 year old.

Key to Semifinals - Raise the level of game

The road to the knockout stages remain clear for the Russian if the play to their calibre. A potential quaterfinal against runnersup of group B is on the cards and would be the first and the hardest test for the Russians. It would be against either Germans, Dutch or the Portugese. Any of the last two is the most likely. It would take a hard toll on the Russians as they would be against one of the favorites of the Euros. Dick Advocaat's team should take their game to a higher level to get a favourable result against these teams. Their players should use the group games to rise up their level of play and key players should hit their form to get anything from either Dutch or Portugese.

UEFA EURO 2012 Group A fixtures
Friday 8 June: Russia v Czech Republic, 20.45CET, Wroclaw

Saturday 9 June: 00.15 IST,

Tuesday 12 June: Poland v Russia, 20.45CET, Warsaw
wednesday 13 June: 00.15IST,
Saturday 16 June: Greece v Russia, 20.45CET, Warsaw

Sunday 17 June 20.45IST

IST Indian standard Time