Russia’s Euro 2012 squad: Dmitry Kombarov

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Published time: June 01, 2012 08:40
Edited time: June 01, 2012 12:41

Imagine the Neville brothers move from Man United to Man City and back. Well, the Kombarov brothers have done just that, swapping Dynamo Moscow for their home, Spartak. Heading to Euro 2012 is only Dmitry – a rare event to see the twins separated.

Full name: Dmitry Vladimirovich Kombarov
Age: 25
Position: Defender/ Midfielder
Club: Spartak Moscow
Caps for Russia: 3
Goals for Russia: 0

Dmitry’s and his identical twin brother Kirill’s football careers were far from straightforward. They started playing football at the age of four and soon joined the Spartak Moscow football academy – their father has long been a passionate supporter of the Red-and-Whites. After a conflict with the school coaches, the brothers left Spartak and joined… one of the club’s biggest historic rivals Dynamo Moscow.

They became true symbols of the club in the mid-2000s, winning bronze medals with Dynamo in 2008. In August 2010, the twins stunned their fans by moving back to Spartak. But soon they silenced their foes from both fan camps.

Dmitry Kombarov (R) trying to contain Edinson Cavani during the friendly match between Russia and Uruguay. (RIA Novosti/Vladimir Pesnya)

Spartak Moscow's Dmitry Kombarov celebrates a goal scored against Anzhi Makhachkala in the Russian Football Premier League (RIA Novosti/Alexey Kudenko)

Kirill and especially Dmitry have been a magic wand for Spartak Moscow thanks to their versatility. During 14 months of the latest Russian Premier League season, the duo covered all possible positions in defense and midfield except for central defense.

Other players may have been out due to injuries or suspensions, but the Kombarovs were always on the pitch or at least one of them – Dmitry. He looked more convincing and mature, and was less prone to injuries than his brother. Dmitry earned more caps than any other Spartak player during the season, helping the team finish second in the league. Quite deservedly, he was invited onto the national side.

Indispensable at Spartak Moscow, Dmitry hasn’t yet cemented a place in the national team’s starting XI. Euro 2012 will see him compete with Yury Zhirkov on the left flank of Russia’s defense, but Dmitry is not willing to let this chance slip easily.

Indeed, he’s got something to counter with more experienced Zhirkov, namely incredible stamina, fairly good agility and tackling skills, distance shot … the list goes on. Strange as this may sound, Dmitry’s biggest downside is his lack of downsides.He can do a lot as a footballer, he does everything pretty well, but the problem is that he does not excel in any of his merits.

Perhaps, Dick Advocaat knows better how to use such an uncut diamond. In the squad, Kombarov is the only representative of Spartak Moscow, the most decorated and one of the most popular clubs in Russia, although this won’t earn him special Advocaat treatment. But there is no doubt, the Euros experience will help Dmitry in his future career even if he doesn’t play a minute in Poland and Ukraine.

Former Dinamo Moscow players, Dmitry Kombarov (L) and Kirill Kombarov (C), during bronze medal awards at the sports palace Luzhniki in Moscow. Dinamo FC became the bronze winner of the RPL in 2008. (RIA Novosti/Vladimir Fedorenko)

­Aleksey Kiselev-Romanov, RT