After winning his first five matches, Leonid Slutsky’s Russia take on Croatia in the last national team game of 2015. The match is played in Rostov on Don, and while Slutsky is likely to use the strongest possible lineup, Croatia has allowed many stars to rest.
Russian Football News, in collaboration with Tommy Piskor (@Tommy_Sportske) from the Sportske Novosti, Croatia’s biggest daily sportspaper, previews the game.
Russia – Slutsky Storming Russia
Nothing can stop Leonid Slutsky raising his reputation. The Russian has led CSKA to the top of the Russian Premier League whilst he still maintains a 100% win record with Russia after being appointed as coach in August, guiding them to the Euro’s in the progress. Slutsky’s performance on a domestic and national level has conjured up a lot of interest from Europe – leaving Yevgeni Giner to look nervously over his shoulder.
The 1-0 win over Portugal wasn’t pretty but it was a sign that Russia could genuinely compete at next year’s Euro’s. Albeit the Portuguese’s side was far from their best with a younger side selected, Russia are on course to swipe away that dismal perform in Brazil a year ago and give their name a new look. With there already being a friendly with France scheduled for March, the Russian football association is determined to prepare the team correctly – something, which could be argued as a failing point in 2014.
Professional against Portugal
Russia controlled the game for large periods and had Dzyuba had more luck on his side, he could have made the score eye-watering for Portugal fans. Fyodor Smolov also had an impressive display whilst Roman Shirokov topped off a professional captains performance scoring the winner. The defence looked solid and despite the age of Berezutskiy and Ignashevich, weren’t exploited or troubled to a large degree during the game.
A huge improvement for Russia was their style of football. Consisting of high pressure whilst looking a threat on the counter, Slutsky is exercising the team’s fitness and you feel like he is finally getting the best of this generation – albeit it several years too late. It certainly benefits the defence and whilst they sit deep, it will be harder to exploit their lack of pace. It also exercises the athleticism of their attackers and will very beneficial to Kokorin when he returns from injury.
Changes against Croatia
It might be hard to vision Slutsky changing the side up too much. There is a sense of high morale within the Russian camp and with eight months until the Euro’s – with one more friendly after this (baring the pre-tournament ones) – I can’t envisage Slutsky mixing and matching things whilst he has a winning formula on the go.
Of course, there is every chance Slutsky will change his side about. He may have more reason to mix things up having only made three substitutes during the Portugal game.
Smolov impressed after he came on so a start maybe on the cards for him. Denis Cheryshev, who plays for Real Madrid hasn’t been a huge favourite for the Russian national side and his lack of game time doesn’t help his case of breaking into it. Although his talent is there to be seen and if Slutsky is looking to make one or two changes, that could be one of them.
In defence, there could be a rare appearance for Viktor Vasin. An appearance wouldn’t normally be discussed but with Slutsky going back to club duty with CSKA next week, you can’t help but feel like he may have that in mind and could force changes to his team selection.
If changes are made, I wouldn’t expect too many. Time isn’t on Slutsky’s side to change things about and he will most likely want their good form to continue and his 100% streak to carry on for another game.
Predicted line up: Igor Akinfeev, Dmitri Kombarov, Aleksei Berezutski, Sergei Ignashevich, Yuri Zhirkhov, Igor Denisov, Denis Glushakov, Aleksandr Samedov, Roman Shirokov, Fyodor Smolov, Artyom Dzyuba
Croatia – Time for Experimentations
On the eve of terrorist attacks in Paris last Saturday, Croatian football team had several problems. However, after those shocking incidents, all those problems ‘disappeared’. Day before kick-off in Rostov, key question is whether security is adequate in Russia. Various security specialists underlined how Russia was also threatened by ISIS.
Back to world of (Croatian) football, Croatia still awaits catharsis. Situation around football in Croatia is similar to the rest of the world. Intertwined with corruption, politics and fans disillusion. Current state of Croatian football is an image of Croatian society in general. Empty stadiums, decade long domination of Dinamo Zagreb (and Zdravko Mamic), unhappiness and poor economic environment, migrated to Croatian national team. Team, which from its beginnings floated above all intrigues of domestic football. When new manager was appointed in early autumn, it merged all together, some media even called for a boycott of national team.
Why? For one, most of the public believe that Dinamo Zagreb executive president Zdravko Mamic, who is in the same time vice-president of Croatian Football Federation (CFF) is ‘god’ of Croatian football and that Davor Suker (president of CFF) is his playing toy. This summer Mamic publicly criticized Niko Kovac, and soon, after first defeat in qualification round, he was fired. His successor, Ante Cacic is second reason of all-time low media support of national team, which was once sacred for every Croat. Cacic, who managed to qualify for EURO after two wins (vs. Bulgaria and Malta), is perceived as Mamic’s pawn. He was fairly unknown manager before Mamic appointed him to coach Dinamo Zagreb (2012-13), and thus doesn’t have needed credentials to become new national team manager. However, if you take glance to past managers, Bilic, Stimac, N.Kovac, none of them had that much experience when appointed as Cacic has. That low level of public support might even be good, as no one expects wonders from him.
Croatia is travelling to Rostov with major stars rested or injured. Subasic, Modric and Lovren are resting, Corluka and Rakitic are injured, while Halilovic and Pjaca are with U21 team. Match versus Russia will mainly serve for trying out new formation, new players and building relationship with new manager.
- Although this is friendly match, we want to win, continue with positive results and raise morale. Russia will also be motivated, no one likes to lose, even in friendly match – said Sime Vrsaljko, Sassoulo’s right back.
Cacic will try out 4-4-2 formation, with Mandzukic and Nikola Kalinic as attacking duo. Although they are similar type of strikers, Cacic says:
- They can play together! They are aggressive, drop deeper to cooperate with teammates, and can be very good duo.
Cacic expects raging, aggressive Russia approach, and thus expects the same from Croatia.
- I wanted tough opponent, because only in those kind of matches you can seek exact answers. Match vs. Russia is extremely important, I want each player to prove his quality.
This might be last appearance in national team for Ivica Olic, who is well known in Russia. Due to the lack of playing time, 36-year old HSV striker says:
- Soon, I will resolve my situation in HSV. I have to search for new club, I want to play regularly. I’m doing all this for Croatia. Yes, I fervently wants to play in France next summer. I am looking forward to see Akinfeev, Ignashevich and Berezutsky, my former teammates in CSKA.
Although Cacic underlines how with Russia game ‘project EURO’ officially begins, objectively this still isn’t real preparation for France next summer.
Posible line-up: L. Kalinic – Srna, Vida, Leskovic, Pivaric – Perisic, Badelj, Brozovic, Pranjic – Mandzukic, N. Kalinic.
Unavailable: Corluka, Subasic, Lovren, Modric, Antolic, Kovacic, Rakitic, Halilovic, Pjaca, Pranjic
Russian Football News would like to thank Tommy Piskor for his contribution to this preview. Make sure to follow him on Twitter: @Tommy_Sportske
