Russia squad at Euro 2004
Russia
Euro 2004 Home | Squad | Star Player | Key Man
The Russians are the biggest unknown quantity at Euro 2004. Few of their players ply their trade outside their homeland and there are plenty of new faces in the squad. There have been many changes since the failure in Japan and South Korea and a new generation has begun to emerge. Yegor Titov will, of course, be suspended due to his positive drugs test after the play-off game against Wales, and he will be sorely missed. However, new names such as Khokhlov, Bulykin and Sychev have the chance to catch the eye. If morale in the squad is good then the Russians could cause an upset but if they have an off-day they are liable to be punished. Expectations are low and they are unlikely to progress from Group A.
Squad
Coach: Georgi Yartsev
| Goalkeepers Viacheslav Malafeev (Zenit St. Peterburg) Sergei Ovchinnikov (Lokomotiv Moscow) Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow) Defenders Vadim Evseev (Lokomotiv Moscow) Dmitri Sennikov (Lokomotiv Moscow) Aleksei Bugayev Torpedo Moscow) Roman SharonovÊ(Rubin Kazan) Aleksandr Anyukov (Krylya Sovetov Samara) Midfielders Aleksei Smertin (Portsmouth) Vladislav Radimov (Zenit St. Peterburg) Marat Izmailov (Lokomotiv Moscow) Andrei Kariaka (Krylya Sovetov Samara) Rolan Gusev (CSKA Moscow) Vladimir Bystrov (Zenit St. Peterburg) Evgeni Aldonin (CSKA Moscow) Aleksandr Mostovoi (Celta Vigo) Dmitri Alenichev (Porto) Dmitri Loskov (Lokomotiv Moscow) Igor Semshov (Torpedo Moscow) Forwards Dmitri Bulykin (Dinamo Moscow) Dmitri Sychev (Lokomotiv Moscow) Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Zenit St. Peterburg) Dmitri Kirichenko (CSKA Moscow) |
| CSKA Moscow midfielder Rolan Gusev will be a key figure in the Russian line-up in Portugal. He missed out on the last World Cup but has performed well in the Russian league and become first choice on the right wing. His passing and crossing ability mean that he will be at the centre of most attacking moves, providing the ammunition for the strikers. At 26 he is ready to make an impact on the big stage. |
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| Key Man | Victor Onopko is one of the most experienced players in football and at 34 he still takes his place at the heart of the Russian defence. The younger players look to him to marshall the back line and keep cool under pressure. Now back in Russia, having spent several years in Spain, this will surely be his last international tournament and the last time his familiar bald pate will be prominent on our TV screens. |
