Goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov and midfielder Viktor Budyanski are the new names in the Russia squad for next month′s two UEFA EURO 2008T qualifiers.
Guus Hiddink has named a 23-man selection for the fixtures which begin with Andorra heading to St Petersburg on 2 June before third-placed Russia travel to Zagreb to face Group E leaders Croatia four days later.
Gabulov′s selection has come about after the serious knee injury suffered by No1 Igor Akinfeev, although Vyacheslav Malafeev is likely to be the direct replacement. Budyanski′s call has come about after some impressive Serie A performances by the 23-year-old Ascoli Calcio 1898 defensive midfielder.
Russia squad
Goalkeepers: Vyacheslav Malafeev (FC Zenit St. Peterburg), Dmitri Borodin (FC Torpedo Moskva), Vladimir Gabulov (FC Kuban Krasnodar).
Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich (PFC CSKA Moskva), Aleksei Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vasili Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Denis Kolodin (FC Dinamo Moskva), Aleksandr Anyukov (FC Zenit St Peterburg), Roman Shishkin (FC Spartak Moskva), Sergei Yefimov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva).
Midfielders: Yuri Zhirkov (PFC CSKA Moskva), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Igor Semshov (FC Dinamo Moskva), Konstantin Zyrianov (FC Zenit St. Peterburg), Viktor Budyanski (Ascoli Calcio 1898), Dmitri Torbinskiy (FC Spartak Moskva), Aleksei Rebko (FC Spartak Moskva), Vladimir Bystrov (FC Spartak Moskva).
Forwards: Ivan Saenko (1. FC Nurnberg), Andrei Arshavin (FC Zenit St. Peterburg), Pavel Pograbnyak (FC Zenit St. Peterburg), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Sevilla FC), Dmitri Sychev (FC Lokomotiv Moskva).
13 05 2007
The meeting of the top two in Russia′s Premier-Liga ended all square after PFC CSKA Moskva drew 1-1 against FC Spartak Moskva on Saturday.
CSKA, who were without injured Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, had the upper hand in the first half with Yuri Zhirkov and Milos Krasić causing problems from the wide areas.
Their dominance was rewarded on 14 minutes when Krasić broke through down the right before curling a shot past Stipe Pletikosa from the edge of the box.
Spartak came back into the game after the interval and the equaliser came on 69 minutes when winger Vladimir Bystrov raced clear and fired a powerful shot just between the legs of CSKA keeper Veniamin Mandrykin.
The result stretches Spartak′s unbeaten start to the campaign to nine games and they remain three points clear of CSKA. The only sour note for the visitors was that the result means they have not defeated their arch-rivals since March 2001.
07 05 2007
PFC CSKA Moskva and Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev admitted to feeling "shocked" after being ruled out for up to six months with a cruciate ligament injury.
The Russian No1 one was involved in a heavy collision midway though the second half of his side's 1-1 league draw with FC Rostov at the weekend and a subsequent scan revealed torn ligaments in his left knee, ruling him out for approximately six months, according to CSKA.
"I am shocked," said Akinfeev. "That is all I can say." Club coach Valeri Gazzaev added: "A goalkeeping injury always affects the team."
The talented 20-year-old will miss most of the Premier-Liga season, with CSKA lying second in the table three points behind leaders FC Spartak Moskva with 15 points from eight games.
He is also likely to miss his side's UEFA Champions League qualifying matches and, potentially, a large portion of the group stage.
He will also be sidelined for Russia′s UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying matches against Andorra, Croatia, F.Y.R. Macedonia and England.
Russia are currently tied for second place in group E with eleven points alongside Israel and England, although Guus Hiddink′s side have a game at hand on their rivals.
13 03 2007
Attacking duo Roman Pavlyuchenko and Pavel Pogrebnyak were notable absentees from Guus Hiddink′s 20-man Russia squad for the UEFA EURO 2008 Group E qualifier in Estonia on 24 March.
Pavlyuchenko of FC Spartak Moskva (knee ligament) is injured and FC Zenit St. Petersburg counterpart Pogrebnyak suspended, prompting Hiddink to recall Sevilla FC striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov and promote FC Amkar Perm′s Evgeni Savin, 22, from the Under-21 squad.
Roman Shishkin, Dmitri Torbinski and Igor Denisov are also hoping to win their first cap in Tallinn, while PFC CSKA Moskva defender Vasili Berezutskiy will not add to his 17 appearances because of injury. Russia, in second place, trail group leaders Croatia by two points after four qualifiers.
Russia squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (PFC CSKA Moskva), Viacheslav Malafeev (FC Zenit St Petersburg).
Defenders: Aleksandr Anyukov (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Sergei Ignashevich (PFC CSKA Moskva), Aleksei Berezutskiy (PFC CSKA Moskva), Denis Kolodin (FC Dinamo Moskva), Roman Shishkin (FC Spartak Moskva).
Midfielders: Evgeni Aldonin (PFC CSKA Moskva), Yuri Zhirkov (PFC CSKA Moskva), Yegor Titov (FC Spartak Moskva), Vladimir Bystrov (FC Spartak Moskva), Dmitri Torbinski (FC Spartak Moskva), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Igor Semshov (FC Dinamo Moskva), Igor Denisov (FC Zenit St. Petersburg).
Forwards: Ivan Saenko (1. FC Nürnberg), Dmitri Sychev (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Andrei Arshavin (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Sevilla FC), Evgeni Savin (FC Amkar Perm).
04 03 2007
PFC CSKA Moskva warmed up for the start of the 2007 season next weekend in style on Saturday by lifting the Russian Super Cup at FC Spartak Moskva's expense.
The reigning champions lifted the trophy for the third time with a 4-2 win against their city rivals.
CSKA were in front as early as the second minute through Vagner Love but Spartak kept going and restored parity just after the interval when Nikita Bazhenov beat Igor Akinfeev with a fine finish.
Soon after, a thunderous Sergei Ignashevich free-kick went in off Dmitri Torbinskiy to restore CSKA's lead but Torbinskiy made amends with a second Spartak equaliser on the hour.
Jô then took over, with a virtuoso display in the closing stages. First he controlled a pass from midfield, turned adroitly and then fired in a shot from outside the penalty area that left Spartak goalkeeper Wojciech Kowalewski with no chance.
The Brazilian forward wrapped up the victory with ten minutes to go from a corner, leaving Spartak empty-handed and having failed to beat CSKA for the 15th consecutive time since 2001.
19 02 2007
CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev claims that Arsenal want to sign him this summer but they must compete with AC Milan.
The Gunners are looking for a long-term replacement for Jens Lehmann as the 37-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is stalling on a new deal.
And Akinfeev insists he would welcome the chance to join Arsene Wenger's side.
He said: "I am delighted that a club of such calibre are interested in me. You can't have too many chances like that in your career. Of course, if they make an offer, I'll take it seriously and will think about it."
However, the Rossoneri are also reportedly lining up Akinfeev as they are likely to let Brazilian Dida leave in the summer.
