Sychev in no need of pep talk
June 16, 2008 at 5:31 pm | In Russia | Leave a CommentTags: Andrei Arshavin, Dmitri Sychev, Guus Hiddink, Innsbruck, Konstantin Zyryanov, Leogang, Sergei Semak, Sychev, Vladimir Bystrov
Forward Dmitri Sychev said “no additional wake-up calls are needed” for Russia as they prepare for Wednesday’s decider against Sweden.
Tennis stars
With two days to go before the Group D day of reckoning in Innsbruck, Guus Hiddink’s session at the training camp in Leogang was dedicated to recovery exercises, with a football tennis tournament keeping players busy after some light stretching and running. Konstantin Zyryanov, Vladimir Bystrov, Sychev and captain Sergei Semak proved to be the stars of the one-hour tournament, before the players were granted the afternoon off.
Saenko vaunts Russian determination
June 16, 2008 at 4:33 pm | In Russia, Sweden | 1 CommentTags: Ivan Saenko, Konstantin Zyryanov, Leogang, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Russia, Sweden, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
What a difference a win makes. Roman Pavlyuchenko performed a brief two-step shuffle, goal hero Konstantin Zyryanov joked with the pack and Ivan Saenko pumped the cool Leogang air with his fist as Russia prepared for their forthcoming Group D game with Sweden in confident mood following their 1-0 triumph over Greece.
Battle stations
Indeed, 1. FC Nürnberg forward Saenko, who came on in place of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov for the last 20 minutes of Russia’s triumph over Greece, said: “If you win, you sleep better.” Saenko made his UEFA EURO 2008™ bow in the victory over the 2004 champions having impressed coach Guus Hiddink with some energetic performances in training, and the attacker revealed that he felt no nerves when entering the Stadion Wals-Siezenheim on Saturday night: “Going into the game from the bench is hard but that wasn’t the first time I’ve played in front of a big crowd so I felt confident. It became easier after my first few touches. It’s always nice to go into a game when there’s a real battle going on.”
Zyryanov vows to turn around doubters
June 14, 2008 at 2:17 pm | In Russia | Leave a CommentTags: Guus Hiddink, Konstantin Zyryanov, Russia
Russia midfielder Konstantin Zyryanov knows much is expected of Guus Hiddink’s men at UEFA EURO 2008™ – and the FC Zenit St. Petersburg player is determined to help them deliver.
‘Tough’ opposition
Having suffered a 4-1 defeat by Spain in their Group D opener, Russia must bounce back against notorious stiflers Greece in Salzburg on Saturday. But, as Zyryanov concedes, they may find it a difficult task. “The next match will be very tough, because neither team has a point yet,” said the 30-year-old. “The recipe for success will be to take our chances and also to be very vigilant in defence. As for Greece’s cautious style of play, we will watch their matches and study them. But they are a very difficult opponent.”
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
