The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.

Semak geared for rearguard action The man charged with captaining Russia in their opening UEFA EURO 2008™ match against Spain in Innsbruck on

Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by , 2016-01-18 02:51:03

SPAIN - RUSSIA - UEFA.com

Semak geared for rearguard action The man charged with captaining Russia in their opening UEFA EURO 2008™ match against Spain in Innsbruck on

SPAIN - RUSSIA

MATCH PREVIEW
Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck
Tuesday 10 June 2008 - 18.00CET (18.00 local time)

Group D - Matchday 4

Despite vast experience and having coached both Korea Republic and the Netherlands to FIFA World Cup semi-finals,
Guus Hiddink believes the Group D opener between Spain and Russia is the beginning of a tantalising journey of
discovery for him.

No fear
The 61-year-old Dutchman is so entranced by the potential of his young Russia team that he wants them to fly at
group favourites Spain in an attempt to rock the confidence of Luis Aragonés's elegant but stubborn side. Previewing
the fascinating contest, Hiddink, who adds Australia to the list of squads he has made greater than the sum of their
parts, admits he is "curious" to see whether Russia can meet his ambitious demands. "I want them to go out and play
good football, I want them to make Spain's life very complicated," he said. "I don't want the frightened and timid
performances of some previous tournaments."

Immense test
His tactics present a big challenge to Russia's defensive pairing of Roman Shirokov and Denis Kolodin. Shirokov
made his debut in March, having switched from midfield, and the latter has never played European football with FC
Dinamo Moskva. Now they face the power and guile of Fernando Torres and David Villa, and Hiddink accepts that:
"Very few of my players have top-level tournament experience but they've reacted to the hard work I've set them. Our
intention is to break the pattern so far where the favourites have always won." With captain Andrei Arshavin suspended
and Pavel Pogrebnyak ruled out of the finals by injury, striker Roman Pavlyuchenko carries much responsibility.
Hiddink both praised and criticised the 26-year-old from FC Spartak Moskva, saying: "He wasn't in great shape when
he joined us but he's made tremendous progress."

Old rivals
Aragonés, meanwhile, looked and sounded equally ebullient as he anticipated recommencing a long-established
rivalry. The two men have often done battle at club level and the Spaniard succeeded Hiddink at Valencia CF. Aragonés
holds his colleague in high esteem. "Dutch coaches always demand good football but it wouldn't surprise me at all if
he plans a tactic to try and shut down Xavi [Hernández] in our midfield," the 69-year-old said. "But this Russia team
is very quick on the counterattack so that's why I've emphasised so strongly to my defenders that they must regroup
quickly and intelligently when we lose the ball."

World class
Aragonés also revealed that he has one or two surprises planned for his opposite number – "just in case they do
manage to man-mark Xavi" – but he also stressed his faith in the FC Barcelona midfielder. "Xavi is in the top three
players in the world at what he does," argued Spain's trainer. "He's been phenomenal for me and I have total confidence
in him. Xavi can change the tempo and the result of a game all on his own." Aragonés already knows his starting
eleven but teased journalists who tried to guess it. "Yes, Villa will take the penalties," he said. "But only if he's picked
in the first place! It has been a long wait to start the tournament but we are totally ready and feel no fear."

Last updated 10.06.2008 00:35:36CET www.euro2008.uefa.com

1

SPAIN - RUSSIA Tuesday 10 June 2008 - 18.00 CET (18.00 local time)
MATCH PREVIEW Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck

Casillas calls for Spain to step up

Iker Casillas says the Spain team must "dance to the same tune" when they take kick off their Group D campaign
against Russia at the Stadion Tivoli Neu.

Past errors
Assuring the assembled media that his side would be going for the victory in their Group D opener, the Real Madrid
CF goalkeeper also admitted La Furia Roja would do their best to learn from past mistakes. "Sure, if we're trailing 3-0
at half-time and end up with a draw then it will be a good result," he said. "But we're going to try and win this game.
We're not saying that qualification will be assured just by winning our first game. You saw what happened in Portugal
[at UEFA EURO 2004™], we won our first game [against Russia] and then we were knocked out."

Hiddink knowledge
Russia are coached by Guus Hiddink, a man who knows the Spanish set-up all too well having had coaching spells
at Real Madrid CF, Valencia CF and Real Betis Balompié. For Casillas, this represents a definite advantage to Spain's
opponents. "There's no doubt that having a knowledge of our football is great for them," he conceded. "We'll always
have respect for a team that is managed by Guus Hiddink, he's done well almost everywhere he's been. His teams
are always there or thereabouts and they're always fighting. They will be very dangerous."

First goal pivotal
It was an assessment backed up by midfielder Xavi Hernández, who added: "They're a physically tough team. They
are very strong, direct, and will try to attack at speed. This is not going to be an easy game. We're going to come up
against a team with a similar philosophy to ours – to dominate possession and play one-touch football." The FC
Barcelona man believes the first goal could prove decisive, allowing Spain to come out of their shell – or else sending
them scurrying back under it. "It's always important to go ahead, but especially so in a tournament as important as
this one," he said. "It's self-explanatory. For confidence and to retain our composure, we need to take the lead."

Last updated 10.06.2008 00:35:36CET www.euro2008.uefa.com

2

SPAIN - RUSSIA Tuesday 10 June 2008 - 18.00 CET (18.00 local time)
MATCH PREVIEW Tivoli Neu, Innsbruck

Semak geared for rearguard action

The man charged with captaining Russia in their opening UEFA EURO 2008™ match against Spain in Innsbruck on
Tuesday, Sergei Semak warns that only a determined defensive performance will give Guus Hiddink's side the Group
D start they want.

Defensive game
Hiddink has handed the 32-year-old playmaker the armband in the absence of forward Andrei Arshavin, suspended
for the opening two fixtures. And the oldest member of Hiddink's squad is well aware of the threat that Fernando
Torres and Co will pose at the Stadion Tivoli Neu as Russia attempt to avoid a repeat of the 1-0 defeat they suffered
against Spain in their first game four years ago in Portugal. "We will learn our tactical lineup before the match," Semak
said. "However, given that the Spanish love their technical and combination-based style with a lot of ball control, we
must play a disciplined and tight defensive game, leaving them as little space as possible."

Hard work
Semak's form for FC Rubin Kazan earned him a recall to the Russia squad on the eve of these finals after two years
out of the reckoning, and he is looking forward to seeing the fruits of their work in recent weeks displayed. "This is a
new team," he said. "Of course, the coach and the team had to get used to each other. We came through a hard
preparation period, but the most important time begins on Tuesday. Then it will be clear how well the team is prepared
and how it has improved."

Happy atmosphere
Since the end of the Soviet Union, the separate Russia team have not come through the group stage of any of the
four final tournaments in which they have competed. Yet Semak stressed the mood was upbeat. "The atmosphere is
fantastic, there is no pressure on us from the outside. Everyone is trying to work the hardest they can in order to
display our best football." The listening Hiddink swiftly interjected: "Well said, Sergei. You're in the lineup." Semak
continued: "Our players may be young, but they have a lot of experience, because they have played in European
competitions and have been through a lot. If a man is well-prepared mentally and physically, he will be confident and
will show his best football."

Last updated 10.06.2008 00:35:36CET www.euro2008.uefa.com

3


Click to View FlipBook Version