THERE ARE NO MATCHES, BUT THE ODDS ARE
Our team lives an amazing life. I don’t find rivals, but I keep going. On Thursday, the RFU published the names of 36 players called up for the training camp from 4-12 September. At the same time, a week and a half before its start, nothing is known about sparring.
Of course, if desired, matches will be arranged. After all, in Russia there is enough equipment. And in quite comfortable times with Stanislav Cherchesov, for example, there was a match against Dynamo (by the way, just in September). So this does not surprise us.
GONCHARENKO WORKS FOR THE TEAM
Much more interesting is that in conditions of the absence of official international matches, the choice of the coach was completely different. If earlier the composition of the Russian national team caused a long controversy about who should have been called up and who should not, because the results and, accordingly, the prospects of playing in major tournaments depended on the correct choice, now the team has become a toy of Valery Karpin and reflects only his personal opinion on the current form of a footballer with a Russian passport.
In this regard, it is significant that the team coach noted the Urals’ good start to the season – 13 points out of a possible 15 in the first five rounds of the RPL – goalkeeper Ilya Pomazun and midfielders Alexander Yushin and Andrey Egorychev were included. in the expanded list of 36 players. The last two, for the first time in his career. And this despite the fact that both are far from children: Yushin is already 28 years old, and Egorychev is 30. Which, with all due respect to the guys, is puzzling, because Karpin has repeatedly explained the decision to call this or that player. wanting to rejuvenate the squad in case official matches return.
RIA Novosti
At the same time, one cannot fail to note the genius work of Viktor Goncharenko. Yegorychev has been in the RPL for five and a half years, but so far the coaches of the national team have not been interested, and Yushin arrived from Neftekhimik just a year and a half ago, and before that he hung out in basements or third-ranked. leagues like Belarusian, Armenian and even Macedonian.
The temptation is too great to spoil the fact that in the next round Ural will play in St. Petersburg and in the status of a team ranked above Zenit.
THREE FROM ZENIT, SIX FROM LOKO
Four more players in the expanded application represent Krasnodar, which shares the front line with Ural. And if Matvey Safonov has long been a contender for the number one position, then defender Sergei Volkov and midfielders Nikita Krivtsov and Alexander Chernikov have never before had the honor of coming to the national team. And this is where everything is extremely logical – these players not only had a great segment of the summer season, but also fit perfectly in age – the oldest (Chernikov) is only 23 years old.
What else is remarkable? For example, the representation of Zenit: Mikhail Kerzhakov, Vyacheslav Karavaev and Ivan Sergeev. The bet on the legionnaires to the detriment of the national team was justified when the Club played in European competitions and now it seems absurd. Especially considering that the Ural will send the same number of players.
RIA Novosti
For comparison, Spartak, which failed in the last two matches, delegated five players: Daniil Khlusevich, Georgy Dzhikia, Ruslan Litvinov, Anton Zinkovsky and Alexander Sobolev. The irony is also in the fact that three are defenders, although it is in the defense of the rojiblancos where hell lives.
But the number of Lokomotiv players is surprising, who only won once in five rounds and finished in 11th place. Moreover, in addition to goalkeeper Ilya Lantratov, there are already five midfielders: Dmitry Barinov, Artyom Karpukas, Anton Miranchuk, Maxim Glushenkov, Sergey Pinyaev. Isn’t it too much for the worst team in the league in terms of xPTS (expected points) according to Understat (3.13), that is, in fact, the quality of the game?
RIA Novosti
But the choice of Rostov players pleases. In the past, Karpin has been criticized more than once for “nepotism”, but now that the yellows have failed at the start of the season, only the two most obvious candidates can be called up to the national team: Danil Glebov and Nikolai Komlichenko. . .
WITHOUT KOKORIN AND DZYUBA
Among the players called up, the 21-year-old central defender of Paris NN Viktor Alexandrov, as well as the midfielders Alexander Golovin and Alexei Miranchuk also deserve attention. Alexandrov, taking into account last season, has only 21 appearances in the Premier League. At first, Nizhny Novgorod conceded only five goals in five games, but I never heard of Victor being personally celebrated. Although he is very good at positional defense and actively prevents opponents from shooting on goal (an average of 1.5 blocks is third best in the league).
As for the legionnaires, it is noteworthy that Karpin did not always upset the players who played abroad, but now he decided to meet personally again with Golovin and Miranchuk. At the same time, the absence of Arsen Zakharyan and Daler Kuzyaev is understandable: the former has just moved to San Sebastian and is focused on adjusting to a new place, and the latter is suspended for one game. In Europe we also have Alexander Kokorin, announced by Fiorentina for the season and even had a pretty good off-season, but this, apparently, is not enough for Karpin.
fake images
It is not on the extended list nor is Artyom Dziuba. At the moment, the striker is recovering from an injury, so he would hardly be useful for the team, but in the absence of really important games, Karpin could call him up. But he did not. Obviously, the relationship between them, the current state of the footballer and the scandals that surround him do not contribute to his return to the national team. But he only lacks one goal to become the only leader in the history of the selection. On Tuesday, Dziuba celebrated his 35th birthday, so it seems that he will no longer be presented at this time.
EXTENDED REQUEST FROM TEAM RUSSIA IN SEPTEMBER
goalkeepers
Matvey Safonov (Krasnodar), Ilya Lantratov (Lokomotiv), Ilya Pomazun (Ural), Mikhail Kerzhakov (Zenith), Anton Shunin (Dynamo).
defenders
Vyacheslav Karavaev (Zenith), Daniil Khlusevich, Georgy Jikia, Ruslan Litvinov, Daniil Denisov (all – Spartak), Sergey Volkov (Krasnodar), Viktor Alexandrov (Pari NN), Artyom Makarchuk (Sochi), Alexander Soldatenkov (“Wings of the Soviets” ), Dmitry Skopintsev (“Dynamo”).
Midfielders
Dmitry Barinov, Artyom Karpukas, Anton Miranchuk, Maxim Glushenkov, Sergey Pinyaev (all – Lokomotiv), Danil Glebov (Rostov), Alexander Chernikov, Nikita Krivtsov (both – Krasnodar), Daniil Fomin (Dynamo), Anton Zinkovsky ( Spartak) , Maxim Mukhin, Ivan Oblyakov (both – CSKA), Andrey Egorychev, Alexander Yushin (both – Ural), Alexei Miranchuk (Atalanta), Alexander Golovin (Monaco).
forward
Nikolai Komlichenko (Rostov), Alexander Sobolev (Spartak), Konstantin Tyukavin (Dynamo), Ivan Sergeev (Zenith), Fedor Chalov (CSKA).