Russian media have urged coach Guus Hiddink to play
an attacking game against England when the two sides meet in Wednesday's
Euro 2008 Group E qualifier.
Russia showed plenty of attacking flair in Saturday's 3-0 win over Macedonia
at Lokomotiv stadium that put them second in the group, a point above
England and two behind leaders Croatia.
"For the most part, I'm very pleased with our attacking play against
Macedonia," Hiddink said. "Since day one, I've been trying to
make our team play attacking, aggressive football and so far, I think,
we have done that."
"Of course, it's a totally different proposition playing England
at Wembley," the Dutchman said. "But we're not going there just
to defend. If we sit back for 90 minutes, sooner or later they'll punish
us," he added.
"We'll have to attack, but we will have to defend as well. I see
it as a high tempo game with both sides looking to score."
Some local experts, however, believe Russia has little to fear from "an
injury-ravaged English side" missing key players, such as Frank Lampard,
David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.
"I can't see why our team should travel to Wembley with eyes popping
out full of fear," wrote Igor Rabiner, a columnist in the daily Sport-Express,
pointing to England's weakness in goal and the less-than-stellar coaching
record of England manager Steve McClaren.
"Take into account that even when injury free, they don't have strong
goalies and why should such a highly successful coach as Hiddink fear
McClaren, who has yet to achieve anything worthy of note with England."
Russia's team officials, however, had a different view.
"In a sense, it's good that Guus doesn't fully speak or read Russian,
so he won't have to listen to all that advice media and fans have for
him," a Russian Football Union source said. "There are some
really crazy ideas out there."
Hiddink, who has few injury worries of his own, had a similar view: "England
are a very good side. I saw a video of their match against Germany last
month, where they conceded two unlucky goals to lose 2-1 but played much
better than Germany."
Striker Ivan Saenko is doubtful for the England game with an ankle sprain,
while winger Yuri Zhirkov has a thigh injury. Goalie Vladimir Gabulov
is suspended after being sent off against Macedonia and, with undisputed
number one Igor Akinfeyev injured, Vyacheslav Malafeyev, who saved a penalty
to preserve a 1-0 lead after replacing Gabulov on Saturday, looks like
a sure starter.
"It would have been a tough choice between Gabulov and Malafeyev
but [Norwegian referee Tom Henning] made that decision for me," Hiddink
said with a wry smile.
, September 11, 2007
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