Escaping group stage seems a gritty job for host Russia

Escaping group stage seems a gritty job for host Russia

A screamer from Mario Gotze helped Germany, defeat Argentina 1-0 in extra time in front of some 80 thousand-odd fans at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro to win the most prestigious football tournament on the blue planet. Four years have whizzed and football fans are eagerly preparing for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be hosted in Russia from June 14th to July 15th of this year. It is another history in the making. It is an abstract norm that the greatest show on earth needs its host team to perform in some way clinically to persist in the collective memory of those who witnessed it.

In 1998, a genius named Zinedine Zidane ran the riot to win the coveted trophy in Paris. 2002 saw South Koreans lung bursting run to the semifinal. Even South Africa in 2006 grabbed some eyeballs too. In 2018, Russia is at the risk of sinking into oblivion as soon as the World Cup finishes in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15th. Their show on the pitch in recent past is a dismal picture. They are now 61st in Fifa rankings.

It’s worth mentioning that Russia’s current ranking is still being affected by the fact that as host, they automatically qualified for their own tournament. Friendlies will not accumulate as many ranking points. Still, its lowliness is only likely to become more demeaning as the tournament approaches. To add to the misery, they are facing inadequate practice matches. Last match against a quality Brazil side ended 0-3 on the score sheet is a grime glimpse.

2016 Euro Cup saw Russia crash out from the group stage. From the foundation, they were totally unimpressive. This crestfallen outing saw Stanislav Cherchesov taking the coaching baton from Leonid Slutsky. In the absence of top-quality players and the departure of a number of the old guard, Cherchesov has had to look increasingly at young talent, although such players are scarce and lack experience.

Russia have some Brazilians, Lokomotiv Moscow goalkeeper Guilherme Marinato and CSKA Moscow full-back Mario Fernandes. Only one of the squads of entirely Russian-based players for this tournament looks like he can leave a mark on the tournament now under way. Aleksandr Golovin, considered their best player of his generation, only turned 21 and is considered the best Russian talent since Andrey Arshavin.

Golovin has fewer individual surprises on offer than the former Arsenal player but is thought to have a better overall understanding of the game, operating both deep and in advanced positions. Beyond him, there is not much to excite Russia. 21-year-old No 10 Aleksey Miranchuk maybe, though he can get knocked off the ball quite often.

Igor Akinfeev, arguably their best goalkeeper is very much prone to mistakes. Other than these few options, Russian general does not have that kind of heavy ammunition for sure. That is why, a particular concern for Cherchesov is the need to resurrect a team that was among the oldest at Euro 2016, amid a lack of obvious young talent. In a sign of the audition process underway, the current squad includes five inexperienced central defenders, none of whom have played more than few matches for Russia.

In this context, qualifying from their group would be seen as a good result from Russia. That would also act as the perfect face-saver for the host country.

from SportsFlashes.com https://ift.tt/2uoohIr