“Russia unlikely to finish Slovenia off in Moscow”
Published: 12 November, 2009, 12:11
Edited: 13 November, 2009, 10:02
TAGS: Sport, Arshavin, Hiddink, Zhirkov, Football
Russia’s coach Guus Hiddink and his players agree that the outcome of the two-legged World Cup playoff against Slovenia will only be decided in second game in Maribor. The duel kicks off on Saturday in Moscow.
There is little doubt that the stadium Luzhniki stadium will be fully packed on the weekend as Russian fans will do everything to help their national team achieve one of the most vital wins in recent history.
So far, 60,000 of the capacity 80,000 tickets have been sold.
However, Russia’s keeper Igor Akinfeev thinks the home factor will not be a crucial one.
“At this level of competition it does not really matter where to start – at home or away. We must score goals and win both games, no matter what,” Igor Akinfeev said.
The Russians may be comfortable with the artificial pitch, but Saturday's forecasted 2ºC weather is something no footballer is particularly looking forward to.
Guus Hiddink’s men showed that they are gearing up for the cold with hats and gloves aplenty on show during training.
The only man with apparently no fear of being frozen was Andrey Arshavin, with the in-form Arsenal star spending the whole training session in shorts.
The conditions of the course will be the same for both teams on Saturday, however, and Hiddink echoed this in his respect for the visitors.
“It is not just one game we have to consider. Also, we need not to get a lot of damage in this first game, because we have to go to [Maribor, Slovenia]. I have respect for the team of Slovenia because they have shown – in qualification and a friendly against England – that they are very well organized,” Guus Hiddink, Russia’s coach, said.
Some of the Russian players agree they do not know an awful lot about their opponents:
“At the moment Slovenia are somewhat of an unknown quantity to us. But the fact that they overcame the likes of Poland and the Czech Republic in their group means we cannot underestimate them,” midfielder Igor Semshov said.
Russia are just two steps away from claiming a World Cup finals berth. The upcoming matches could well be the toughest they face in the whole campaign.
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To put it bluntly: Slovenia is a balkan country, their people dont lack confidence. Their players especially. They play well, but smetimes their capabilities were boosted by referees. I remember we- Slovakia played with Slovenia in Ljubljana and we would win, if western European referee didnt give them a free penalty. The next match in Bratislava was from our side terrible, cause our players are prone to stress more than anybody else it seems. Inferiority complex or whatever... We of course lost that one, but thankfully Poland was so helpful to us and in the 5th minute of play on snowy football field got own goal, with some sick snowing continuing, we miracolously won 0-1. Thats the first time we go from qualifiers from our existence (1993) as separate state. Oh and its quite funny, were going to S Africa and big Russia isnt sure if it will go. Rather hilarious, not that I make fun of my eastern bro´s. :) Good luck, show those westerners how to play!