Russia have endeared themselves to many at Euro 2008 with their smart and flowing soccer but what they have lacked is the final killer touch and today they hope that returning star Andrei Arshavin will add it.
The 27-year-old was unable to play in the first two Euro 2008 Group D matches (a 4-1 defeat to group winners Spain and then a 1-0 win over deposed titleholders Greece) because he was suspended for a costly flash of temper in their final qualifier against Andorra when he kicked an opponent.
That rash behavior may well have cost him the captaincy for the match with Sweden today — coach Guus Hiddink is not one to stand on ceremony when players are ill-disciplined — but his creativity, artistry and ability to inspire his team-mates will be much welcomed.
PHOTO: AP
Indeed several sides, not least Scottish giants Rangers, will attest to his ability to provide the killer pass as his club Zenit St Petersburg rode roughshod over the Scots in the UEFA Cup final — he created both goals — and even mighty Bayern Munich.
“I prefer to pass than score goals,” Arshavin said.
With Russia needing to win and injury worries about several of their midfielders, his return is just the boost the team needs against a solid if uninspiring Swedish side.
Some coaches would immediately dispense with players who had a two match suspension, but it says how valuable Arshavin is to the side that Hiddink still brought him along.
Nonetheless, Hiddink has hinted he may only use Arshavin as a substitute because he is lacking match fitness and rhythm. The wily, 61-year-old Dutchman is likely to keep Sweden guessing about Arshavin’s role until he announces his lineup shortly before kick-off.
There is no doubt that Arshavin is Russia’s little jewel, capable of outwitting any defense. He could well take advantage of the rather leaden footed duo of Ollof Mellberg and Petter Hansson today.
He is extremely attached to his home city and St Petersburg inhabitants are very attached to him as well, liked as much by soccer fans as intellectuals and artists, who admire the way that he was awarded a diploma in fashion for his thesis on the “process of development in making Sportswear.”
Arshavin will hope the next development will be that he inspires Russia into the Euro quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, the fitness of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a concern for Sweden coach Lars Lagerbeck. The Inter Milan striker has scored in both of Sweden’s matches, but came off at half-time against Spain after feeling pain in his left knee. It’s very unlikely he will be play 90 minutes against Russia.
“He’s not played a full game for quite a long time due to his injury,” team doctor Anders Valentin said. “We have to be careful with him. I mean if he ... plays full games with only a few days in between, maybe he can’t take that.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to