Euro 2008 looks set to go down as one of the most exciting tournaments for years with top class football being played by a number of teams. However it also looks set to be remembered for various bizarre decisions regarding team selection, and squad selection. The world of international management wouldn’t suit famed tinkermen like Rafa Benitez and Claudio Ranieri as there seems to be a staunch loyalty displayed by the majority of those in charge. Club form seems to be way down on the list when it comes to picking the final X1 and that has never been more evident than in Austria and Switzerland. I may be proved wrong with some players but there are some decisions which have baffled the footballing world.
Luis Aragones was chastised for omitting Raul from his squad for Euro 2008, particularly because the man who took his place was uncapped, unfancied forward Sergio Garcia. However, as well as angering the Spanish people, especially residents of Madrid, and bewildering many pundits, he also failed to follow a footballing tradition by including the nation’s talisman. Every time a major international tournament comes around, there is much debate about the squads and almost every nation has one specific debate – whether to select the national hero and the experienced head. This championship has probably taken this debate to a totally different level. Of the 16 nations in Austria and Switzerland, 6 demonstrate fully the reasoning behind going with the old head. However over the last week the 6 players have been used to different degrees and to the most part, sparingly.
At this championship there has been a classic misuse of the older players from one extreme to the other. Whilst Raymond Domenech fields his veterans whatever the situation and probably never considers leaving them out or substituting them, other managers, including those in charge of the host nations, haven’t used experience to their advantage. Austria’s only goal of the tournament so far was scored by 38 year-old talisman Ivica Vastic. Vastic has also probably been their most impressive player. However, he hasn’t started either of their group games and has played just half an hour in each game. For a team with such little talent it is a mystery why Joseph Hickersberger has failed to start with the most talented player available to him. The Swiss coach Kobi Kuhn realised his mistake earlier than his Austrian counterpart but it still wasn’t enough.
The pairing of Hakan Yakin upfront with captain Alexander Frei was expected to be the best chance for the Swiss to qualify but Kuhn inexplicably chose to leave Yakin on the bench for the curtain-raiser despite him being the top scorer in the Swiss League, preferring Marco Streller, who put in what must be one of the most innocuous footballing performances ever. With Frei ruled out through injury, Yakin came into the side for their second group game and scored after half an hour. However with just five minutes to go and the game heading for a stalemate, Kuhn removed Yakin and Turkey scored. In the final group game Yakin was once again handed a start and scored a brace but it was too late as the Swiss had already exited the competition.
The selection of Alessandro Del Piero in the Italian squad was very similar to that of Yakin in the Swiss group. Like Yakin, Del Piero had rediscovered his best form and after a tremendous season in Serie A, he had finished as top scorer with 21 goals. He was left on the bench against Holland until the 64th minute when the Azzurri were already two goals down. His introduction did make a difference and he was handed a start against Romania, along with the captain’s armband. He performed well again before being replaced with ten minutes to ago and during that time Italy would have been eliminated from the tournament if Gianluigi Buffon hadn’t pulled off one of the best penalty saves ever seen.
Only Henrik Larsson and Sergei Semak have been first choice. After playing 90 minutes in the first game, setting up a goal in the process, Larsson was once again selected to face Spain. After a good display he was taken off with three minutes to go and the score at 1-1 heading for a draw and Spain scored in stoppage time. Lars Lagerback had taken off his most experienced player, the man most likely to nick a goal and the best player at his disposal to hold-up the ball. It is hard to criticise Lagerback as he has generally used Larsson in the correct manner but it would have been wise to take into account what happened after Kuhn removed Yakin and Donadoni took off Del Piero just days earlier.
The most extraordinary selection was made by Guus Hidiink. The Dutch coach came into the tournament with a new captain and a man who had been exiled from the national fold for the whole qualifying campaign. Despite his lack of action under Hidiink, Sergei Semak was included in the squad and selected to captain the side. After a resurgence in Russian football, it was expected that youth would be the basis of any Russian success but Semak was given the job of inspiring the side to victory. Although his performances haven’t been excellent, his desire and experience were essential in helping his young comrades to get over the hammering that they took from Spain. If Semak had more quality and was more renowned, his selection would be making waves further afield than just Moscow.
The final surprise inclusion was that of Oliver Neuville in the German squad. Despite helping his club side Borussia Moenchengladbach get promoted, he wasn’t tipped to be selected. However he benefited from Joachim Low’s bizarre decision to take only two centre backs to the championships, allowing Neuville to sneak into the squad as the fifth striker. However he hasn’t appeared in either of Germany’s first two group games and his case is symbolic of how many old-timers are used by international managers. They are often selected to win public support or get the country talking about the national side. Pundits see the selections as gambles which demonstrate the quality of the manager. However, when it comes down to it, players like Vastic are left on the bench because the coaches aren’t brave enough to fully utilise them. When they are started, they are taken off with the clock running down, at the point when they can be most needed to hold up the ball. This tournament has shown that the ‘golden oldies’ of football are essential to every international side but only when used in the correct way. If only Lars Lagerback had left Henrik Larsson on for three more minutes against Spain, perhaps then everyone would be talking about his use of the Swedish talisman as the perfect example to follow.
23/06/2008
Strange Selections - Part 1:Bizarre Bleus
Euro 2008 looks set to go down as one of the most exciting tournaments for years with top class football being played by a number of teams. However it also looks set to be remembered for various bizarre decisions regarding team selection, and squad selection. The world of international management wouldn’t suit famed tinkermen like Rafa Benitez and Claudio Ranieri as there seems to be a staunch loyalty displayed by the majority of those in charge. Club form seems to be way down on the list when it comes to picking the final X1 and that has never been more evident than in Austria and Switzerland. I may be proved wrong with some players but there are some decisions which have baffled the footballing world.
Raymond Domenech is well-known for his strange selections and single-minded views but he has taken it to a new level in the past month. His initial squad contained several surprises and he continued the trend as the tournament progressed. Domenech continued his bad decision making after the tournament as he proposed to his partner, Estelle Denis, on live TV. Her response was lukewarm, suggesting that Domenech has managed to annoy everybody including those closest to him.
The provisional squad contained the majority of the players people expected to see although the exclusion of David Trezeguet was seen as a mystery by some (see below). However, when the squad was cut to the final 23, many footballing experts were left stunned by omissions in all positions.
In goal, Steve Mandanda was preferred to Mickael Landreau as the third-choice keeper but that was probably the least controversial move as Mandanda has all but no chance of playing.
The two Arsenal full-backs, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna were named in the PFA Team of the Year but both were omitted by Domenech at the last hurdle. After a shaky season at Barcelona, nobody would have been shocked if Eric Abidal had been left out and judging by his poor performances in the group, that would have been a clever choice. On the right side there was even more shock. Sagna, although lacking in international experience, clearly has a greater deal of ability than Francois Clerc and Willy Sagnol but, once again, Domenech let his heart rule his head. In the centre of defence Phillipe Mexes was left out in favour of his former Auxerre colleague Jean Alain Boumsong. Boumsong continues to fool managers around Europe into signing him and Domenech is another who has fallen into the trap. It is a mystery that a defender who has been so often compared to Titus Bramble in his calamitous nature is seen by the French coach as a better option than Phillipe Mexes who has been classy at the back for Roma this season. The most illogical selection was that of Lassana Diarra ahead of Mathieu Flamini. Diarra’s case is extraordinary as at one point he had played more times for the national side than he had for his club. A favourite of Domenech’s, he was outcast at Arsenal as Flamini forged a strong partnership alongside Cesc Fabregas. Whilst Flamini was performing at the highest level and eventually earning a move to AC Milan, Diarra was having to try and revive his career at Portsmouth. However, Domenech appears to think that he knows better than Arsene Wenger.
Bafetimbi Gomis was the surprise inclusion in the French squad. The St Etienne striker was selected after impressing on debut with a brace against Ecuador in a pre-tournament friendly. The intense excitement regarding his involvement was demonstrated by the crowd’s reaction when he was introduced in France’s first group game against Romania. The expectation was almost as huge as Gomis himself. Several heavy touches later, the French crowd were wondering what all the fuss was about. His performance against Holland wasn’t much better and he wasn’t involved against the Italians. Gomis was selected due to his club form ahead of David Trezeguet. That’s the same David Trezeguet who scored four more goals than Gomis in the same amount of fixtures in a much tougher league. Under any other manager than Domenech, Trezeguet would have been an automatic choice but the rift between them has been brewing for a while. But there was also a rift between Domenech and Nicolas Anelka until recently and they have kissed and made up. Bizarrely there reconciliation has come at the time when Anelka’s form has been really poor, having scored only twice in 24 appearances since joining Chelsea.
However it isn’t only the continued use of Gomis, brought on ahead of Karim Benzema against Holland, that is causing debate in France. Widely regarded as the best left back in the world, Patrice Evra was expected to start against Romania. The Barcelona full-back Eric Abidal was chosen ahead of Evra despite a shaky season in Spain. The uproar surrounding the selection, including a TV show centred solely on this debate chaired by Domenech’s wife, led to Evra being selected against Holland. Abidal was however reinstated against Italy at the heart of the defence and that decision effectively cost France their place in the tournament. Whilst Abidal was dropped, the hapless Florent Malouda somehow kept his place in the side until the last game. Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri, seen as the future of French football, were left to watch from the sidelines for the whole match as Malouda looked a shadow of the player seen at Lyon and carried on where he left off with Chelsea.
It is this variety of blunders and Domenech’s ridiculous reasoning behind his decisions that has led to much criticism and to France exiting the competition early. He has contradicted himself heavily and has overused the older generation. Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele can’t disguise their age anymore as their performances aren’t good enough and in the case of the former mental instability has become an issue too. The lack of pace has caused problems defensively and Makelele couldn’t get anywhere near the Dutch midfield in the second group game. The fact that both men have now retired is positive for the future but it came too late in the eyes of most people. Domenech is a stubborn man who isn’t liked by many French fans but at least he gives everybody a chance. Let’s face it, if Boumsong can get in the squad, there’s hope for all of us.
Raymond Domenech is well-known for his strange selections and single-minded views but he has taken it to a new level in the past month. His initial squad contained several surprises and he continued the trend as the tournament progressed. Domenech continued his bad decision making after the tournament as he proposed to his partner, Estelle Denis, on live TV. Her response was lukewarm, suggesting that Domenech has managed to annoy everybody including those closest to him.
The provisional squad contained the majority of the players people expected to see although the exclusion of David Trezeguet was seen as a mystery by some (see below). However, when the squad was cut to the final 23, many footballing experts were left stunned by omissions in all positions.
In goal, Steve Mandanda was preferred to Mickael Landreau as the third-choice keeper but that was probably the least controversial move as Mandanda has all but no chance of playing.
The two Arsenal full-backs, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna were named in the PFA Team of the Year but both were omitted by Domenech at the last hurdle. After a shaky season at Barcelona, nobody would have been shocked if Eric Abidal had been left out and judging by his poor performances in the group, that would have been a clever choice. On the right side there was even more shock. Sagna, although lacking in international experience, clearly has a greater deal of ability than Francois Clerc and Willy Sagnol but, once again, Domenech let his heart rule his head. In the centre of defence Phillipe Mexes was left out in favour of his former Auxerre colleague Jean Alain Boumsong. Boumsong continues to fool managers around Europe into signing him and Domenech is another who has fallen into the trap. It is a mystery that a defender who has been so often compared to Titus Bramble in his calamitous nature is seen by the French coach as a better option than Phillipe Mexes who has been classy at the back for Roma this season. The most illogical selection was that of Lassana Diarra ahead of Mathieu Flamini. Diarra’s case is extraordinary as at one point he had played more times for the national side than he had for his club. A favourite of Domenech’s, he was outcast at Arsenal as Flamini forged a strong partnership alongside Cesc Fabregas. Whilst Flamini was performing at the highest level and eventually earning a move to AC Milan, Diarra was having to try and revive his career at Portsmouth. However, Domenech appears to think that he knows better than Arsene Wenger.
Bafetimbi Gomis was the surprise inclusion in the French squad. The St Etienne striker was selected after impressing on debut with a brace against Ecuador in a pre-tournament friendly. The intense excitement regarding his involvement was demonstrated by the crowd’s reaction when he was introduced in France’s first group game against Romania. The expectation was almost as huge as Gomis himself. Several heavy touches later, the French crowd were wondering what all the fuss was about. His performance against Holland wasn’t much better and he wasn’t involved against the Italians. Gomis was selected due to his club form ahead of David Trezeguet. That’s the same David Trezeguet who scored four more goals than Gomis in the same amount of fixtures in a much tougher league. Under any other manager than Domenech, Trezeguet would have been an automatic choice but the rift between them has been brewing for a while. But there was also a rift between Domenech and Nicolas Anelka until recently and they have kissed and made up. Bizarrely there reconciliation has come at the time when Anelka’s form has been really poor, having scored only twice in 24 appearances since joining Chelsea.
However it isn’t only the continued use of Gomis, brought on ahead of Karim Benzema against Holland, that is causing debate in France. Widely regarded as the best left back in the world, Patrice Evra was expected to start against Romania. The Barcelona full-back Eric Abidal was chosen ahead of Evra despite a shaky season in Spain. The uproar surrounding the selection, including a TV show centred solely on this debate chaired by Domenech’s wife, led to Evra being selected against Holland. Abidal was however reinstated against Italy at the heart of the defence and that decision effectively cost France their place in the tournament. Whilst Abidal was dropped, the hapless Florent Malouda somehow kept his place in the side until the last game. Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri, seen as the future of French football, were left to watch from the sidelines for the whole match as Malouda looked a shadow of the player seen at Lyon and carried on where he left off with Chelsea.
It is this variety of blunders and Domenech’s ridiculous reasoning behind his decisions that has led to much criticism and to France exiting the competition early. He has contradicted himself heavily and has overused the older generation. Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele can’t disguise their age anymore as their performances aren’t good enough and in the case of the former mental instability has become an issue too. The lack of pace has caused problems defensively and Makelele couldn’t get anywhere near the Dutch midfield in the second group game. The fact that both men have now retired is positive for the future but it came too late in the eyes of most people. Domenech is a stubborn man who isn’t liked by many French fans but at least he gives everybody a chance. Let’s face it, if Boumsong can get in the squad, there’s hope for all of us.
England's Euro 2008 Squad
So, after a famous victory against the Germans, which was celebrated across the country, qualification as group winners was confirmed. Unfortunately for all Englishmen, it wass the Croatians who were joyous. Steve McLaren’s troubles mean that whilst we had to sit and watch the dirge produced by Austria and Switzerland – surely the worst hosts ever – from home, the Croatian side were preparing for a quarter-final. Whilst it is clear that they have ability and their determination is undoubted, their players, Luka Modric and Nico Kranjcar aside, aren’t anywhere near as talented as the majority of the England set-up. So, I thought, if only it was us who were set to finish the group as winners, with Fabio Capello’s side having a 100% record, which players would we be resting and who would be the squad players coming in. So here are the 23 players who should be in Austria right now and a few of the ones who would have been unlucky to miss out.
GOALKEEPERS
David James – Calamitous in the past, James has become much more stable at Portsmouth and would be the experienced head needed behind the defence.
Chris Kirkland – Injury-prone throughout his career, it is unfortunate for Kirkland that he is fully fit and has enjoyed a run in the Wigan side at the time when England have failed to qualify for a major tournament for the first time in 14 years.
Robert Green – No England manager seems to have realised his ability but Green has been just as consistent this season as any keeper in the Premiership.
DEFENDERS
Wes Brown – Brown has played as much as anybody at club level this season and it is a shame for him as this would have been his chance to shine on the international stage in the absence of club colleague Gary Neville and the talented Micah Richards through injuries.
Rio Ferdinand – Inspirational for his club, Capello would have chosen him to carry on where he finished in Moscow and lead the side.
John Terry – Despite the agony of his missed penalty, Terry would have been a certainty to partner Ferdinand and act as vice-captain.
Ashley Cole – The best English left-back in generations suffered a blip in form after his controversial move to Chelsea. However he is now back to near his best and would have slotted in on the left side as he has done in the last 3 tournaments.
Jonathan Woodgate – Like Kirkland, injuries have plagued his career and this has been his most consistent season. He would have benefited from the lack of other candidates.
Wayne Bridge – Able understudy at both club level and for the national side, Bridge would have been selected despite a lack of action in recent months.
Joleon Lescott – The Everton man would have performed the role Phil Neville played in Portugal and acted as cover for the whole back four. His versatility will no doubt work against him in the future.
Glen Johnson – Injuries would have worked in his favour and Johnson would have gone to Austria as cover for Wes Brown.
MIDFIELDERS
David Beckham – National hero 7 years ago after his heroics against Greece, Beckham would have been a disputed selection due to the level that he now plays his club football at. However, due to a lack of serious competition and the dwindling form of Wright-Phillips and Lennon, Beckham would have been at his sixth successive tournament.
David Bentley – The only serious contender to Beckham, his consistency has shone through this year and that would have set him apart from Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Joe Cole – The Chelsea wideman has made the left wing position his own in recent years and he would have gone into the tournament on the back of winning his fiftieth cap.
Gareth Barry – Versatility would have aided the Aston Villa man but he would probably only have made the bench due to the intense competition although he is a favourite of Capello’s.
Michael Carrick – Overlooked from the last squad due to a mix-up over an operation, Carrick’s excellent club-form would have made him a key member of the squad.
Owen Hargreaves – The Manchester United midfielder was once one of the most hated players in the set-up but his performances at the last World Cup and his move to England would have made his selection a no-brainer.
Frank Lampard – Having taken over Hargreaves’ place in the hearts of the boo-boys, the death of his mother put everything in perspective and led to him earning a hero’s welcome at Wembley last month. Probably would have acted as understudy to Gerrard.
Steven Gerrard – Although his form this season has been much worse than in past years, he was still nominated for the player of the year award and that tells you everything you need to know about his reputation.
FORWARDS
Michael Owen – Once a certain starter for every England match, his injury-torment has meant that he has become a totally different player and his standard has dropped rapidly. Can no longer rely on lightning pace and doesn’t seem to suit a deep-ling role. In spite of all the negatives, his finishing and experience still make him an asset.
Wayne Rooney – The 12th of June was a special day for the Manchester United striker as he married long-term girlfriend Colleen McLoughlin. It could have been much different as it could have been him and not Ivica Olic who tapped home a goal against the Germans. Probably would have been the first name on the list.
Jermain Defoe – His late-season surge in form would have taken him above Theo Walcott and Darren Bent in Capello’s estimations. He probably would have started ahead of Michael Owen too.
Peter Crouch – Despite a lack of match-action for Liverpool, he still offers a greater threat than the other ‘big-men’. Crouch would have sneaked in to the squad ahead of Dean Ashton.
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Although the squad generally picks itself there are a few who had valid claims. Scott Carson would have been the unlucky man between the sticks whilst Ben Foster would have understood his exclusion due to lack of action and Joe Hart due to inexperience.
At the back, Gary Neville and Micah Richards wouldn’t have been considered due to injuries and lack of match fitness.
Stewart Downing and Ashley Young would have been overlooked on the left and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon on the right. In the central positions the strength of those selected would have meant that nobody else would have been in the frame.
A lack of quality in the forward positions would have made them the most difficult to select. With Wayne Rooney the only certainty, Dean Ashton, Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott would have felt hard-done by when told they were to be left out.
Perhaps the ease with which I picked this squad demonstrates the problem which the national side has. Although the core players in the squad are a match for any side in the world, the fringe players are of a much lower standard and the competition is few and far between.
GOALKEEPERS
David James – Calamitous in the past, James has become much more stable at Portsmouth and would be the experienced head needed behind the defence.
Chris Kirkland – Injury-prone throughout his career, it is unfortunate for Kirkland that he is fully fit and has enjoyed a run in the Wigan side at the time when England have failed to qualify for a major tournament for the first time in 14 years.
Robert Green – No England manager seems to have realised his ability but Green has been just as consistent this season as any keeper in the Premiership.
DEFENDERS
Wes Brown – Brown has played as much as anybody at club level this season and it is a shame for him as this would have been his chance to shine on the international stage in the absence of club colleague Gary Neville and the talented Micah Richards through injuries.
Rio Ferdinand – Inspirational for his club, Capello would have chosen him to carry on where he finished in Moscow and lead the side.
John Terry – Despite the agony of his missed penalty, Terry would have been a certainty to partner Ferdinand and act as vice-captain.
Ashley Cole – The best English left-back in generations suffered a blip in form after his controversial move to Chelsea. However he is now back to near his best and would have slotted in on the left side as he has done in the last 3 tournaments.
Jonathan Woodgate – Like Kirkland, injuries have plagued his career and this has been his most consistent season. He would have benefited from the lack of other candidates.
Wayne Bridge – Able understudy at both club level and for the national side, Bridge would have been selected despite a lack of action in recent months.
Joleon Lescott – The Everton man would have performed the role Phil Neville played in Portugal and acted as cover for the whole back four. His versatility will no doubt work against him in the future.
Glen Johnson – Injuries would have worked in his favour and Johnson would have gone to Austria as cover for Wes Brown.
MIDFIELDERS
David Beckham – National hero 7 years ago after his heroics against Greece, Beckham would have been a disputed selection due to the level that he now plays his club football at. However, due to a lack of serious competition and the dwindling form of Wright-Phillips and Lennon, Beckham would have been at his sixth successive tournament.
David Bentley – The only serious contender to Beckham, his consistency has shone through this year and that would have set him apart from Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Joe Cole – The Chelsea wideman has made the left wing position his own in recent years and he would have gone into the tournament on the back of winning his fiftieth cap.
Gareth Barry – Versatility would have aided the Aston Villa man but he would probably only have made the bench due to the intense competition although he is a favourite of Capello’s.
Michael Carrick – Overlooked from the last squad due to a mix-up over an operation, Carrick’s excellent club-form would have made him a key member of the squad.
Owen Hargreaves – The Manchester United midfielder was once one of the most hated players in the set-up but his performances at the last World Cup and his move to England would have made his selection a no-brainer.
Frank Lampard – Having taken over Hargreaves’ place in the hearts of the boo-boys, the death of his mother put everything in perspective and led to him earning a hero’s welcome at Wembley last month. Probably would have acted as understudy to Gerrard.
Steven Gerrard – Although his form this season has been much worse than in past years, he was still nominated for the player of the year award and that tells you everything you need to know about his reputation.
FORWARDS
Michael Owen – Once a certain starter for every England match, his injury-torment has meant that he has become a totally different player and his standard has dropped rapidly. Can no longer rely on lightning pace and doesn’t seem to suit a deep-ling role. In spite of all the negatives, his finishing and experience still make him an asset.
Wayne Rooney – The 12th of June was a special day for the Manchester United striker as he married long-term girlfriend Colleen McLoughlin. It could have been much different as it could have been him and not Ivica Olic who tapped home a goal against the Germans. Probably would have been the first name on the list.
Jermain Defoe – His late-season surge in form would have taken him above Theo Walcott and Darren Bent in Capello’s estimations. He probably would have started ahead of Michael Owen too.
Peter Crouch – Despite a lack of match-action for Liverpool, he still offers a greater threat than the other ‘big-men’. Crouch would have sneaked in to the squad ahead of Dean Ashton.
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Although the squad generally picks itself there are a few who had valid claims. Scott Carson would have been the unlucky man between the sticks whilst Ben Foster would have understood his exclusion due to lack of action and Joe Hart due to inexperience.
At the back, Gary Neville and Micah Richards wouldn’t have been considered due to injuries and lack of match fitness.
Stewart Downing and Ashley Young would have been overlooked on the left and Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon on the right. In the central positions the strength of those selected would have meant that nobody else would have been in the frame.
A lack of quality in the forward positions would have made them the most difficult to select. With Wayne Rooney the only certainty, Dean Ashton, Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott would have felt hard-done by when told they were to be left out.
Perhaps the ease with which I picked this squad demonstrates the problem which the national side has. Although the core players in the squad are a match for any side in the world, the fringe players are of a much lower standard and the competition is few and far between.
Russian Revolution
2008 has been a great year for Russian football so far. After victory for Zenit St. Petersburg in the final of the UEFA Cup, everybody’s attention turned to the national team. The shambolic performance in the opening group game against Spain led many people to believe that Euro 2008 was one step too far for the inexperienced bunch of players. However, Guus Hiddink had the experience and know-how to rejuvenate his troops. Success over the Swedes will be followed by today’s encounter against the free-flowing Dutch. No matter what the result is, all of Europe has been forced to take notice of some tremendous individual displays in the tournament and there could be an exodus from Russia on the way.
The young goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev hasn’t really put a foot wrong so far and at 22, he has a lengthy career ahead of him. He has already been linked with Arsenal as they search for a replacement for outgoing Jens Lehmann and their North London rivals Spurs are also on the lookout for a new shot stopper. He has inevitably been compared to the great Lev Yashin but he needs to demonstrate his prowess regularly on the big stage before those comparisons can be confirmed.
The two full-back Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Anyukov have been the most offensive in the competition. Their rampaging runs have been key to the Russian success and they create the chances as they bypass the usually narrow midfield.
Anyukov was one of the key members of the Zenit squad and played well in the final against Rangers. He usually performs as a wing-back but he has been given a more traditional right-back role in the tournament as Hiddink has reverted to a 4-4-2 system. This hasn’t subdued his attacking potential though and his service has helped Roman Pavlyuchenko to have the most shots on target of any player in the competition. Zhirkov’s displays have been much more surprising as he usually plays as an attacking left winger and has previously been dubbed the Russian Ronaldinho. Although he has often played as a left wing-back, many regular watchers doubted whether he could perform on the left side of a back four. However he has confounded the critics as well as sticking to his usual style. His constant forays into the opposition half have excited all viewers and his trickery has bamboozled defenders. Both players have been linked with moves to the Premiership but it appears that they will stay in Russia for one more season before they spread their wings.
Apart from the shocking performance against Villa and Torres, the centre-backs have been relatively solid but I don’t think many scouts will have been suitably impressed. The two that have recently been mentioned in the same breath as various Premiership clubs are the Berezutskiy twins but they were surprisingly omitted from the starting line up for the group games as the 4-4-2 system was used. The same could be said about the midfield which has slightly underperformed as a unit. Igor Semshov and Konstantin Zyrianov are over 30 and the Russian revival has probably come a bit too late for them to forge careers in one of the top European leagues whilst the captain Sergei Semak has already played outside Russia for a season with PSG. The three names that may well be on many shopping lists are Vladimir Bystrov, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Dmitri Torbinsky. Bystrov plays for Spartak Moscow and is recognised as one of the fastest players in football. His pace is a threat and led to him being the most fouled player in the Russian league last season. Clubs in need of a right winger may be taking a close look at him or perhaps his compatriot and former teammate Torbinsky. Both players are 24 years old and they play in the same position but Torbinsky is seen as the better crosser. He has just moved to Lokomotiv Moscow so a transfer this summer is extremely unlikely but his career will be followed by a number of sides. Bilyaletdinov also plays for Lokomotiv and at the age of 23, potentially has a long career ahead of him. He has excelled for Russia in a position just behind the front two ever since Yegor Titov and Dmitry Loskov retired from international football. He is versatile as he has performed equally well on the left side of midfield with his major downside being a lack of goals. However this could be rectified if he played in a more productive side as he clearly has the ability to take more chances.
The two most prized assets in Russian football at the moment are the strike pairing of Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin. Pavlyuchenko has a record of a goal every other game with his club side Spartak Moscow and is adored by the fans. The injury to Pavel Pogrebnyak and Arshavin’s suspension meant that Pavlyuchenko was relied on in the first two games to lead the line. Although he pulled one back against the Spanish, he looked isolated. He faired much better against the Greeks but missed a number of chances when it seemed easier to score. He scored the first goal in the final group game and linked up well with the returning Arshavin. He has been linked to many of Europe’s top clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid but Celtic and Bologna are believed to be the clubs who are most actively interested in him, reported lodging bids of around seven million pounds. Many people think that a move to either of those two clubs would be a sideways step and Pavlyuchenko is expected to hold out for a move to a more renowned club in Spain, Italy or England. His style seems well suited to the English game and a move to one of the clubs in the UEFA Cup seems most probable. Andrei Arshavin is undoubtedly the most prized asset in Russian football at this moment in time. His suspension from the first two games left Russia short up front and lacking in fluency. His importance was emphasised by his tremendous display against Sweden as he scored the goal that secured Russia’s place in the knockout stages. He was the key player as Zenit won the league title for the first time in 23 years and he set up both goals in the UEFA Cup final against Rangers, winning the man of the match award as well. He has recently stated that he would like to leave Zenit and is expected to move to one of Europe’s top sides after the tournament. At the moment Arsenal seems his most likely destination as he would fit in perfectly with their free-flowing, fast-passing style. However Everton and Tottenham have also been heavily linked with Arshavin and Manchester United may well come in with a late bid as they search for a new forward to provide cover for Tevez and Rooney.
In the past Russian players have found it difficult to make a name for themselves in Europe’s top leagues with Andrei Kanchelskis the only player to achieve continued success during a four year spell with Manchester United. Many of the current crop maybe nervous about making the step up but their quality would serve them well. It probably needs one player to move in order to trigger the exodus and Arshavin could well be that man. With Europe’s top clubs circling like vultures, the Russian clubs will be anxious as one transfer could spark off the modern day Russian Revolution.
The young goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev hasn’t really put a foot wrong so far and at 22, he has a lengthy career ahead of him. He has already been linked with Arsenal as they search for a replacement for outgoing Jens Lehmann and their North London rivals Spurs are also on the lookout for a new shot stopper. He has inevitably been compared to the great Lev Yashin but he needs to demonstrate his prowess regularly on the big stage before those comparisons can be confirmed.
The two full-back Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Anyukov have been the most offensive in the competition. Their rampaging runs have been key to the Russian success and they create the chances as they bypass the usually narrow midfield.
Anyukov was one of the key members of the Zenit squad and played well in the final against Rangers. He usually performs as a wing-back but he has been given a more traditional right-back role in the tournament as Hiddink has reverted to a 4-4-2 system. This hasn’t subdued his attacking potential though and his service has helped Roman Pavlyuchenko to have the most shots on target of any player in the competition. Zhirkov’s displays have been much more surprising as he usually plays as an attacking left winger and has previously been dubbed the Russian Ronaldinho. Although he has often played as a left wing-back, many regular watchers doubted whether he could perform on the left side of a back four. However he has confounded the critics as well as sticking to his usual style. His constant forays into the opposition half have excited all viewers and his trickery has bamboozled defenders. Both players have been linked with moves to the Premiership but it appears that they will stay in Russia for one more season before they spread their wings.
Apart from the shocking performance against Villa and Torres, the centre-backs have been relatively solid but I don’t think many scouts will have been suitably impressed. The two that have recently been mentioned in the same breath as various Premiership clubs are the Berezutskiy twins but they were surprisingly omitted from the starting line up for the group games as the 4-4-2 system was used. The same could be said about the midfield which has slightly underperformed as a unit. Igor Semshov and Konstantin Zyrianov are over 30 and the Russian revival has probably come a bit too late for them to forge careers in one of the top European leagues whilst the captain Sergei Semak has already played outside Russia for a season with PSG. The three names that may well be on many shopping lists are Vladimir Bystrov, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Dmitri Torbinsky. Bystrov plays for Spartak Moscow and is recognised as one of the fastest players in football. His pace is a threat and led to him being the most fouled player in the Russian league last season. Clubs in need of a right winger may be taking a close look at him or perhaps his compatriot and former teammate Torbinsky. Both players are 24 years old and they play in the same position but Torbinsky is seen as the better crosser. He has just moved to Lokomotiv Moscow so a transfer this summer is extremely unlikely but his career will be followed by a number of sides. Bilyaletdinov also plays for Lokomotiv and at the age of 23, potentially has a long career ahead of him. He has excelled for Russia in a position just behind the front two ever since Yegor Titov and Dmitry Loskov retired from international football. He is versatile as he has performed equally well on the left side of midfield with his major downside being a lack of goals. However this could be rectified if he played in a more productive side as he clearly has the ability to take more chances.
The two most prized assets in Russian football at the moment are the strike pairing of Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin. Pavlyuchenko has a record of a goal every other game with his club side Spartak Moscow and is adored by the fans. The injury to Pavel Pogrebnyak and Arshavin’s suspension meant that Pavlyuchenko was relied on in the first two games to lead the line. Although he pulled one back against the Spanish, he looked isolated. He faired much better against the Greeks but missed a number of chances when it seemed easier to score. He scored the first goal in the final group game and linked up well with the returning Arshavin. He has been linked to many of Europe’s top clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid but Celtic and Bologna are believed to be the clubs who are most actively interested in him, reported lodging bids of around seven million pounds. Many people think that a move to either of those two clubs would be a sideways step and Pavlyuchenko is expected to hold out for a move to a more renowned club in Spain, Italy or England. His style seems well suited to the English game and a move to one of the clubs in the UEFA Cup seems most probable. Andrei Arshavin is undoubtedly the most prized asset in Russian football at this moment in time. His suspension from the first two games left Russia short up front and lacking in fluency. His importance was emphasised by his tremendous display against Sweden as he scored the goal that secured Russia’s place in the knockout stages. He was the key player as Zenit won the league title for the first time in 23 years and he set up both goals in the UEFA Cup final against Rangers, winning the man of the match award as well. He has recently stated that he would like to leave Zenit and is expected to move to one of Europe’s top sides after the tournament. At the moment Arsenal seems his most likely destination as he would fit in perfectly with their free-flowing, fast-passing style. However Everton and Tottenham have also been heavily linked with Arshavin and Manchester United may well come in with a late bid as they search for a new forward to provide cover for Tevez and Rooney.
In the past Russian players have found it difficult to make a name for themselves in Europe’s top leagues with Andrei Kanchelskis the only player to achieve continued success during a four year spell with Manchester United. Many of the current crop maybe nervous about making the step up but their quality would serve them well. It probably needs one player to move in order to trigger the exodus and Arshavin could well be that man. With Europe’s top clubs circling like vultures, the Russian clubs will be anxious as one transfer could spark off the modern day Russian Revolution.
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