The Roman Shirokov Russia Thread - Featuring Pav, Arshavin and Pogrebnyak!

Russia - Info

Head Coach - Dick Advocaat

Captain - Andrei Arshavin

Most Capped - Viktor Onopko (109)

Most Goals - Vladimir Beschastnykh (26)

FIFA Ranking - 11 (Highest ranking - 3)

Best Euro Result - Semi Final (2008)

How they got here? Finished top of Group B (group that had Ireland, Slovakia, Andorra, Armenia and Macedonia) with 23 points

Final 23 Man Squad for Euro 2012

Goalkeepers

1 Igor Akinfeev, 08.04.86, CSKA Moscow (52 caps/0 goals)

16 Vyacheslav Malafeev, 04.03.79, Zenit (25/0)

13 Anton Shunin, 27.01.87, Dynamo Moscow (2/0)

Defenders

2 Aleksandr Anyukov,28.09.82, Zenit (65/1)

12 Aleksei Berezutski, 20.06.82, CSKA Moscow (48/0)

19 Vladimir Granat, 22.05.87, Dynamo Moscow (0/0)

4 Sergei Ignashevich, 14.07.79, CSKA Moscow (75/5)

21 Kirill Nababkin, 08.09.86, CSKA Moscow (1/0)

3 Roman Sharonov, 08.09.76, Rubin Kazan (8/0)

5 Yuri Zhirkov, 20.08.83, Anzhi Makhachkala (52/0)

Midfielders

7 Igor Denisov,17.05.84, Zenit (26/0)

17 Alan Dzagoev,17.06.90, CSKA Moscow (20/4)

22 Denis Glushakov, 27.01.87,Lokomotiv Moscow (9/1)

9 Marat Izmailov, 21.09.82, Sporting Lisbon (33/2)

15 Dmitri Kombarov, 22.01.87, Spartak Moscow (4/0)

23 Igor Semshov, 06.04.78, Dynamo Moscow (57/3)

6 Roman Shirokov,06.07.81, Zenit (22/6)

8 Konstantin Zyryanov,05.10.77, Zenit (50/7)

Forwards

10 Andrei Arshavin, 29.05.81, Arsenal (71/17)

11 Aleksandr Kerzhakov, 27.11.82, Zenit (61/19)

18 Aleksandr Kokorin, 19.03.91, Dynamo Moscow (5/0)

14 Roman Pavlyuchenko, 15.12.81, Lokomotiv Moscow (47/20)

20 Pavel Pogrebnyak, 08.11.83, Fulham (32/8)

Pre-Euro Friendlies

Russia 1 -1 Uruguay (Suarez 48', Kerzhakov 50')

Lithuania 0-0 Russia

Italy 0 - 3 Russia (Kerzhakov 60', Shirokov 75' & 89')

EURO 2012 Fixtures

Group A (Russia, Czech Rep, Poland, Greece)

08.06.12 Czech Republic (Wroclaw, Pol) W 4-1 (Dzagoev x2, Shirokov, Pavlyuchenko)

12.06.12 Poland (Warsaw, Pol) D 1-1 (Dzagoev)

06.06.12 Greece (Warsaw, Pol)

Probable XI

Advocaat is unlikely to go away from the 4-3-3 he has used successfully to get Russia here so I'm almost certain he'll maintain the 4-3-3 and go for something like this -

Most of their squad are players based domestically and the core of the side is Zenit based so that will definitely be beneficial (with the back 4 being mainly CSKA players) so the chemistry between the players should be good. Dzagoev is a natural No.10 but will be used to cut in from the right and ditto with Arshavin on the right with Kerzhakov to spearhead their attack and to provide the goals (although Shirokov will chip in with the goals too). Zyryanov's place at CM isn't guaranteed either as Glushakov has had a good season at Lokomotiv and he also faces competition from Semshov.

How far can they go?

They're probably the strongest side in Group A and an opening day win vs Czechs will put them in good shape to top Group A (which I think they will do) which will pit them up against the runners-up for Group B which they are likely to face one of Germany/Holland and whilst they're not the team of 08 that beat the Dutch, they probably think they can pull of an upset but realistically I think they'll get to the QF. However, if there is a surprise runner up to Group B they will fancy their chances of progression. The majority of this side were there in 08 so they will have the desire to go the extra mile this time round.

Odds for winning the Euros - 25/1

One(s) to watch

Roman Shirokov - the best midfielder in Russia at the moment (and for the last 18 months or so), an outspoken midfielder who's become a cult hero with the Zenit fans and is definitely a 'Marmite' character for many. On the pitch, he is a dynamic midfielder who is a more disciplined and less reckless player than his teammate for club and country Denisov and makes surging runs into the box and possesses an attacking threat for Russia. Has been terrific in Zenit's title winning season and CL run (scoring 5 goals that helped Zenit's CL KO stage run) After a poor showing in 08, he will be the key to their success this year.

Alan Dzagoev - Highly rated youngster who has had a good domestic season for CSKA. The 21 year old will be able to showcase his talents on a broader stage at the Euros and may well play a pivotal role in how Russia fare in the group.

Andrei Arshavin - last, but not least, it's Arshavin. Would've put Kerzakhov here given he was the top scoring Russian in the RPL this season with 23 goals (2nd in the league behind Doumbia) but I had to go for Arshavin. Probably the most gifted player the Russian's have produced and instrumental to the success in Austria and Switzerland 4 years ago, he's not had a great season at Arsenal by any stretch but has had a decent spell at Zenit on loan and despite his Arsenal form this season, eyes will be firmly on him during the Euros to see how he will fare.

Should progress from their group easily enough I think, could be a real dark horse for the tournament

Expect them to qualify comfortably out of Group A together with Poland. The Zenit link between half the squad will prove very valuable as the team will be easily gelled together. I can't see them going past the quarters it if they come across Germany or Holland as expected because those two teams are so strong, but I can already imagine that resulting in an epic, epic match.

Just some more awesomeness about Shirokov (and why he's loved by many, á la Balotelli) -

He once made up a story about breaking a leg and having to wear a plaster cast as a cover up story as to why he went missing for two months after going away for a weekend with some mates for a BBQ whilst playing for Torpedo ZIL. In a press conference he said his 'holier-than-thou manager' is a 'greedy ******* only interested in money'. Shirokov, giving his two cents on Kurban Berdyev (the Rubin manager that led them to 2 titles and the CL win at Barca) who has carries praying beads in his hands at every game,'The only god he recognises is Mr Franklin from the hundred dollar note'

Since the start of this year, Shirokov has been hitting out at the pitch conditions in Russia. He told the Zenit stadium groundsman should be "shepherding goats on this pitch instead of playing football" and Shirokov told the billionaire Suleyman Kerimov to invest in the football infrastructure first, before buying players.

Shirokov is a great guy. I don't like Zenit but he is a really great character and sounds like an intelligent down to earth guy from not much what I've heard him talking about.

I guess that also is one of the reasons that likes hockey much more than football. He said that he had to make a career in football because hockey gear is too expensive and is family couldn't afford it.

When he was 23 he was still playing at the level which is worse than conference in England And he started to play well only at about 26-27.

Yeah, it was really that spell at Khimki (arguably at Saturn is where he pulled his finger out and started being properly commited) that was the start of his rise and he's become one of those 'late bloomers' as he's at his peak now, aged 30.

BBC were bigging up Dzagoev earlier, are they on to something? Can we expect him to light up the tournament?

Don't know if he'll light up the tournament, per sé, but I can see him being a very influential player for Russia and could determine how far Russia go. He's in the same boat as Eriksen in the sense that both are highly rated youngsters and have had good domestic campaigns and can use the Euros as a platform to showcase their talents to the rest of Europe (ie. interest potential buyers further/raise their price)

Speaking of Dzagoev, David Pleat did a piece on 6 young players to watch this Euros (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jun/06/david-pleat-euro-2012-six-watch)

The CSKA Moscow talent has won a major battle to get fit for inclusion in the squad. Born in 1990, he will be one of the youngest players in the tournament but Dick Advocaat knows the importance of his linking skills behind either Pavel Pogrebnyak or Roman Pavlyuchenko. The bonus is that he is able to snatch vital goals. Similar to Andrey Arshavin, who also played under Advocaat when he managed a quality Zenit St Petersburg side, he is clever on the ball with an eye for goal. His elusive talents could just swing a quarter final place Russia's way. Apart from the enigmatic Arsenal forward Arshavin, all the players are home-based and well paid. All are able to resist moves west but Dzagoev could be the exception.

This is from ESPN's ones to watch

Given that the likes of Andrei Arshavin won't be around much longer, the Russian national team is struggling for stars for the next World Cup cycle. Winger Alan Dzagoev is the real shining hope, a technically gifted, creative and clever midfielder who, despite recent injury struggles, at one time had caught the eye of Real Madrid.

Unfortunately, Dzagoev isn't just aligned with Arshavin in representing the future of Russian soccer as the Arsenal flop once did, but rather in his tendency to spend games on the periphery against difficult opponents. In a soft group against Greece, Poland and the Czech Republic, Dzagoev should have little trouble leading his team through to the knockout stage.

Pleat must've missed the memo that Kerzakhov will be the starting striker for Russia but, yeah, gives a concise insight on the player

Russia (4-3-3)

Malafeev; Anyukov, A.Berezutski, Ignashevich, Zhirkov; Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov; Dzagoev Kerzhakov Arshavin

Spot on (bar the GK)

Why is Akinfeev not starting?

Why is Akinfeev not starting?

Oh gosh, I've never seen that much of russian domestic football (I get depressed by the empty stadium), I have to say Shirokov is the man. What a game he played against Czech.