Dutchman Guus Hiddink is the head coach of Russian men's national soccer team (photos by ESPN)
Throughout history, Russia has shown a willingness to utilize non-Russian know-how for greater advancement. As a case in point, Peter the Great studied shipbuilding in Holland and England, to enhance Russia's maritime status. In 2006, Dutchman Guus Hiddink was hired to coach the Russian men's national soccer team.
Prior to Hiddink's hiring, Russia's soccer program was in disarray. The quality level of a soccer coach has been known to greatly influence the level of a given program. Money was shelled out to Hiddink with that in mind. Hiddink has a good track record for improving the stature of the national soccer teams he has coached.
After a sluggish start in their first game of the men's European 2008 soccer tournament (a 4-1 loss to Spain), the Russian team won its games against Greece and Sweden. Russia now faces the daunting task of playing the highly regarded Dutch team in a quarter-final match.
Soccer aficionado Andrew Young of Siberian Light offered these thoughts after Russia's last game against Sweden: Best performance I have seen from Russia in ages - incisive and relentless on offense. As of now, only Holland and Spain look better. It is a shame that Russia drew Holland in the quarter-finals. Russia has one of the few squads in Euro 2008, whose players almost exclusively play in their country's domestic league, rather than elsewhere. Guus Hiddink is a master at bringing the best out of a mediocre soccer nation, which Russia has been over the past two decades.
The upcoming Holland-Russia match will be televised throughout the U.S. on ABC this Saturday (tomorrow, June 21) at 2:45 PM (North American eastern time) or at 11:45 AM (North American western time). The pregame will begin 15 minutes earlier (2:30 PM EST, 11:30 AM PST).
The Russian team's top players are 26 year old Spartak Moscow striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and 27 year old Zenit St. Petersburg forward Andrei Arshavin.
The Russian national team at Euro 2008
Roman Pavlyuchenko, Russia's star player
ESPN reports: Sergei Semak's quick thinking wrongfoots Antonis Nikopolidis and gives Konstatin Zurianov the chance to score.
Comments
Think how good Russia would have been if Pogrebnyak was playing up front... Pavlychenko is a good striker, but inconsistent and a mediocre finisher. He won't get many chances against Holland...
Russia's performance against Sweden is bar none the best I've seen from a post-Soviet national team since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Modern attacking football in all its glory. Quickness, precision, tactical acumen, it was all there. Finishing a bit sloppy, but see my point above (Pogrebnyak vs. Pavlyuchenko). Let's just hope it holds against Holland...
BTW, minor point: the team picture you have up there is not from EURO 2008, but most likely from the Russia-England qualifier in Moscow. (Note that the goalkeeper in the shot is Gabulov, the third choice at the EURO, while both the Berezutsky twins are there, which has not happened in this tournament yet)
Posted by: igor | June 20, 2008 11:48 AM
russia is the best go russia go
Posted by: habibov | June 20, 2008 10:10 PM
Igor:
Your points on Pogrebnyak, Pavlyuchenko and the referenced photo
are well taken.
Pogrebnyak is a highly thought of player.
So far, Pavlyuchenko is Russia's leading scorer in the tournament. When
the Russian team is analyzed, his name seems to always come up as a key
player. Here's one of several examples:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=539119&cc=5901
As you probably know, Pavlyuchenko scored Russia's first goal in the game with Holland.
There was a bit of a miscommunication on the photos. I selected the photos, but didn't write the comments below them. Gabulov and the Berezutsky brothers are on Russia's Euro '08 roster.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7418334.stm
I should've initially picked up your point on what was worded below that
photo.
Enjoy Thursday's game.
Posted by: Michael Averko | June 22, 2008 11:25 PM
Dear Russian friends,
I have 4 tickets to the match RUSSIA-SPAIN. Because Holland lost I am not going with my friends. Its 4 tickets for 4000,- euro the seats are next to eachother!! I live in Holland the hague contact me on Alexanderlinden@hotmail.com
Posted by: Alexander | June 23, 2008 8:25 AM
Congrats to our neighbour from Turkey...
hope you'll do great in your next game
go Rusya!!
Posted by: turk | June 25, 2008 5:43 PM
Hey evryone Russia is good plaY SOCCER COOL.
Posted by: sasha | August 6, 2008 1:41 PM
I was working at my dad's restaraunt when this game was on and we watched it. (Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) That was also the day I fell in love with Roman. LOVE HIM!!!
Posted by: thrufirewithoutaburn | August 8, 2008 10:47 PM