Nice interview with Kerzhakov on UEFA.com: http://www.euro2004.com/competitions/EURO/news/Kind=8192/newsId=126331.html "Unfancied", my a**! Throw out some well-orchestrated sand-bagging by some Muscovites, we would have won the whole enchilada.
Despite my affinity for Russian football, I’ll be cheering for the Welsh in this one. I don’t think they’ll get this close to qualifying for a major tournament in the foreseeable future.
Most Zenit fans are so touchy about the subject of their team, it's almost provicnial. I think that Piter would only be too happy if every other club on the face of the Earth simply stopped existing so that the beloved Neva outfit would finally get their dues. Judging simply by the titles held, I would say that Zenit is just as fancied as Ararat, Shakhtyor and Zarya Voroshilovgrad. And less fancied than Dinamo Minsk, Dinamo Tbilisi and Torpedo. As for the match itself, there isn't much to say. Maybe Russia would've faired better if they put in an all-Loko lineup, including the head coach. But I doubt that. Let's face it: it's winter in Russia, the season is over, they are playing against the opponent they have vastly udnerestimated and they are never any good against defensive sides. I will hope for a 1:1 outcome in Cardiff.
Shurik, this result is going down like you predicted a month or so back. Tie in 1st leg and a lot of excuses after the 2nd. Most of the accounts of the game that I came across mention only the assault on Giggs. Anyone watch the game, have player ratings? More predictions. Frankly, the 0-0 result is the worst in since the loss to France in qualifying for the 1998 WC. I think the team will be playing for a Tie at Wales and will loose on a last minute deflection from Robbie Savages nose. Anyway, where is our friend Zenit and all the other commentators and moderators? Maybee we should send all the RedSox "Cowbow Up" posters to the Wales game?
The return leg should be an interesting one. Seeing highlights from the first leg I can say that Russia dominated from the start on. Ryan Giggs won't be fit for wednesday so anything could happen. This should be a good game.
The Russian FA is trying to get Giggs disqualified for the second leg, which I think is a bad PR move. They should be able to beat The Unpronounceables with or without their star. Besides, when do the Russians ever get a break with UEFA? An excuse in the waiting is, of course, the availability of the USDA Choice Prime Scapegoat (or should I say Scapesheep?) Sergei Ovchinnikov. The emotional keeper's outburst earned him a yellow and an automatic 1-game suspension. Giggs' non-DQ, of course, would be a beautiful excuse as well.
A bit extreme, I think. I'm a man of modest expectations....I think I would settle for just one thing....for the Moscow clubs to retire their on-going collaborative efforts with regards to promotion/relegation/winning/losing/etc. Eh, spoilin' for a fight, are we?
What really, really amuses me most of all is Mr. Fair Play himself, Robbie Savage, complaining about sportsmanship (or lack thereof) in Moscow. What were you for Halloween, Mr. Savage....the pot or the kettle? Robbie Savage with his hair dyed black is a dead ringer for Denis Savard, which seems appropriate. Except Denis was more talented. Even though he smoked menthol cigarettes like a man going to the electric chair. (Still hate him. Hate Al Secord worse.) I like the sounds of that 1-1 draw.
At least, these didn't concern Zenit this year. It's the Kalmykians who should be furious on the account. And CSKA, of course, sandbagged Loko straight out of the podium. They must consider Cherkizovo a no-man's land (which is less than a spoiled mellon's throw away from the truth). I wasn't around in 1967 when Zenit was spared relagation despite finishing second-last due to the timely interference from Kremlin, but I am guessing that the inhabitants of the self-proclaimed "cultural capital" didn't raise too many objections. Just the facts. Zenit have 1 League and 2 Cup titles in their trophy case. Actually, you can swap Dinamo Minsk and Shakhtyor there. The Miners are a bit more fancied than Zenit, if you consider their 4 USSR Cups, and Dinamo are probably more proud of their lone USSR Championship than of the 5 Byelorussian honours combined.
No, you definitely not Mr. Current Events. Mostovoi is sitting it out because of yellow card accumulation.
Wales-Russia is now a result. Congrats to the final entry to the Euro 2004 finals, although I didn't think Wales deserved to go even that far. Watching Wales play would be like hearing chalk screeching across the blackboard. They have no offense to speak of and it showed today. Boring Boring Wales
Now that we have qualified, with an older team (as the press states). Who is up and coming. Also, can anyone print out a line-up of the 1st and 2nd game and show their ages. Interesting to see if this group can gell and get into the 2nd round at EC04.
Other than Onopko, Mostovoi, Ovchinnikov, Alenitchev and Titov all the players on this team should be in prime playing age by the time Germany-2006 rolls around. Loskov will be 32, but Izmailov, Kerzhakov, Sytchev, Karyaka, Gusev, Bulykin, Malafeyev and Akinfeyev will all be at the peak of their careers. This is a team that can be around for a while, unless it terribly underperforms. Spartak has a couple promising up-and-comers in Pavlenko and Pavlyuchenko who will probably get into the national team jersey by the next WC quals.