By Ger Clancy , the Irishman
On the road from Sheremetyevo-2 to Moscow, a strange-looking monument sits awkwardly among the advertising hoardings and petrol stations. A huge lump of concrete with enormous spikes protruding, the anti-tank ‘Yozh’ (hedgehog) marks the closest the Germans got to Moscow in December 1941. It’s a symbol of not only how near the Wehrmacht got to the capital, it’s also a reminder that plenty of foreigners have come here with lofty plans of domination and got brutally sent back to where they came from, tail between legs.
Last night the England football team became the latest member of that grouping. And for one of the few times since its birth, the Russian Sbornaya was dishing out the punishment to a major football power.
The omens were bad for England right from the outset. Before kick off at least five of their supporters had been injured in scuffles. Around 4,000 England fans had traveled to Moscow for the match, amid warnings by their embassy not to wear face-paint and avoid displays of their allegiance on the streets prior to the game.
Throughout the week the English press talked endlessly about the synthetic surface being used at Luzhniki but to his credit, the England coach Steve McClaren wrote it off as an excuse. He may have wished he’d said nothing. For the first time in years an international match at Luzhniki had a sell-out crowd, guaranteeing a hostile reception for the English. Russian coach Hiddink made a number of changes from the team that was thumped at Wembley a month ago, most notably dropping goalkeeper Malafeev for Gabulov. Malafeev had a nightmare against England and Hiddink is not a man renowned for hesitation in difficult team selections.
However, on the field, England couldn’t have started better. They controlled the play in midfield and took the lead deservedly after 29 minutes. A high ball was allowed to bounce in the Russian box by Vasilii Berezutski and Rooney latched on to the dropping ball to lash a rasping shot high into the top corner beyond a helpless Gabulov. It was no more than England deserved and the Russians were now looking in deep trouble.
The game turned on a number of incidents in the first 25 minutes of the second half. Not long after the restart Steven Gerrard missed a gilt-edged chance, blasting wide with only Zurabov to beat. Then Micah Richards forced a good save from Gabulov when he really should have scored, shooting tamely from only 8 yards out. The moment of the game came on the 69th minute. Rooney rashly pulled down Zyrianov just outside the England box, but the forward fell down into the box. The referee incorrectly gave a penalty and Russia a lifeline, which substitute Pavluchenko gratefully accepted, blasting into Robinson’s right-hand corner. Now level, Russia pressed forward and when four minutes later Robinson could only parry Arshavin’s shot, Pavluchenko pushed home the rebound past a despairing Richards on the goal-line. Russia held on to the lead in modest comfort and greeted the final whistle with jubilation and smiles, something not previously associated with the Sbornaya, and rapturous celebrations in the stands.
The postmortem is already underway in England, focusing mainly on McClaren’s persistence with blundering goalkeeper Robinson, as well as throwing away a relatively comfortable lead. For Russia, however, all is bright. If Russia wins their next two games, against Israel and Andorra, they will qualify for Euro 2008, sensationally dumping England out in the process. Although the trip to Tel-Aviv will not be easy, the Russians are in control of their own destiny and will wallop Andorra. Hiddink’s magic appears to be rubbing off at last, and although the Sbornaya are by no means cured of all their ills, they are finally off the life-support. For England a miserable trip home beckons, and like the Werhmacht and Le Grande Armee before them, they leave Moscow defeated and mortally wounded.
{ 23 comments }
Hee hee! Good post.
Thanks Tim!
It is funny though! Mind you, being Welsh and Irish, we havent a lot to be sneering at ourselves at the moment!
Mind you, being Welsh and Irish, we havent a lot to be sneering at ourselves at the moment!
I’m busy scrutinising my family tree for some South African roots….
Hey, we can vote now. Which is better, Ger’s writing about FSU-related sports matters, or Mike’s?
If you won’t come to the quadruple-dog dare, the quadruple-dog dare will come to you,
OK, I’ll go first. One vote to Ger!
Ger 1, Mike 0. Ger > Mike.
Alexandra and Andrew Waller just called from their honeymoon suite, and they told me that they like Ger’s work better too. So now the vote is Ger 3, Mike 0.
Chris is arguably the biggest asshole at these threads.
I might be having something out soon in a bit.
Note how Chris started trolling after this post:
http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/10/18/putin-in-iran/#comment-11036
His idea of diversionary tactics.
“Note how Chris started trolling after this post:
http://seansrussiablog.org/2007/10/18/putin-in-iran/#comment-11036
His idea of diversionary tactics.”
All I see at that link is you being spanked by Tim.
“Chris is arguably the biggest asshole at these threads.”
Oh, don’t be petty. You’re just jealous because Alexandra and Andrew don’t call. You must be lonely bereft of your sockpuppets.
What “sockpuppets”?
Gary Brecher?
No, whoever writes Brecher’s columns is far too good of a writer to be your sockpuppet.
Those stains all over Alexandra and Andrew were pretty disgusting, by the way. It took 4-5 cycles in the washer to get rid of them all. You really are a sick puppy.
Like the above quoted Chris Doss is well.
Twisted people like himself see themselves as normal.
Never mind his so-so at best English language grammar skills.
“Like the above quoted Chris Doss is well.”
You admit it then do you, that for you “sockpuppet” takes on a whole new, sordid meaning? Good for you, it is a step toward getting better.
Unfortunately, the psychological scars inflicted upon Andrew and Alexandra may never heal, you sockpuppet rapist. They were just a couple of innocent socks, man!
I admit that I’m slumming big time by interacting with you.
Thanks, Ger! Good writing and fun to read. Wasn’t “mauling” somewhat of an exaggeration, though? I didn’t see the game, so I can only judge from what I have read.
I hope Russia pulls through. Considering Russia’s past football history, I have to admit that I’m not totally confident about them winning against Israel. I mean, they should win, but….
Hiddink is a great coach and it certainly seems that, as you say, his magic is having an effect. I’m glad that Russia finally got on board with most of the world and got over their silly reluctance to hire foreign coaches when local coaches are not producing results.
Hi Everyone!
sorry for the delay in writing, but I’ve no classes on monday, so I stay at home in my village, internet-less, and write up acetates for the students.
Kolya -you’re absolutely correct, there’s no doubt that Russia didnt ‘maul’ England in the truest sense, but I was just using the verb for effect – i.e. – lions usually ‘maul’ their victims, England are the Lions, but this time they were beaten. As Tim Newman has noted elsewhere, style is as important as substance. I just wanted an eye-catching headline. It will be hard for the Russians at Ramat-Gan, but I think they’ll do it. Hiddink will have a plan for Israel, and unlike a lot of coaches, he learns very quickly -he’ll have taken note of how Israel held the Russians in Moscow, and will find a way around that. But knowing the Russians, they wont do it the easy way, so be prepared for a lot of nervous watching. I’m thinking of writing something on the CCCP team of the eighties next, if Sean and the readers qarent fed up of football already. Dasaeyev was a big hero of mine as a youngster, and that team was awesome.
Chris, thanks for the compliments!! In fairness to Mike, he is writing about fairly dull stuff, and he does have a big slant, so its hard for many people to like what he writes, irrespective of style. But the thing about Mike is that he is convinced he’s the intellectual superiour of us all – and that his work is beyond criticism. When people question the content of his stuff, he says things like ‘I’ve already addressed that’ when he hasnt, of starts firing shit. Its a great pity. He doesnt help himself at all.
“Chris, thanks for the compliments!! In fairness to Mike, he is writing about fairly dull stuff, and he does have a big slant, so its hard for many people to like what he writes, irrespective of style. But the thing about Mike is that he is convinced he’s the intellectual superiour of us all – and that his work is beyond criticism. When people question the content of his stuff, he says things like ‘I’ve already addressed that’ when he hasnt, of starts firing shit. Its a great pity. He doesnt help himself at all.”
***&*
More horseshit from the above quoted. Broad unsubstantiated comments, which are repeatedly stated in a troll like manner.
Very imature as well. Foreign policy, sports (besides soccer), history, reviews of English language media are of interest to some, with others finding what the above quoted writes to be boring.
Mike,
in fairness, I didnt mean boring work -its just highly political and can be a bit tedious, thats all. Football is easier to write about and more fun. Its like teaching – I’ve got a class in drug analysis, which all the students love, and then I’ve physical chemistry, which puts even me to sleep. I wasnt trying to denigrate you.
“I’m thinking of writing something on the CCCP team of the eighties next, if Sean and the readers aren’t fed up of football already.”
Well, Ger, I’m definitely not fed up! I hope to read your article about the 80s team some day.
I’m thinking of writing something on the CCCP team of the eighties next, if Sean and the readers qarent fed up of football already.
Not fed up in the least. On the contrary. If you write it send it my way.
Kolya/Sean,
thank you very much for the encouragement, I’ll write it and get it sent to you in a week or so -I’ve loads on this week. I just hope I havent mortally offended Mike Averko!
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