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.”
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