Jun
25
Russia Marches On . . .
June 25, 2008 | 36 Comments
Russia tries to keep up the momentum as it looks to face Spain on Thursday. Ger Clancy, our ever loving Irishman, breaks down Russia’s run and their chances for the cup.
After more than 16 years in the doldrums, Russian football is finally going places. Not since Euro ’88 have Russian footballers seen the second round of any international major tournament. Now their inspired victory over a highly-rated Dutch team, who had swept away all before them, has landed them a Euro 2008 semi-final spot against Spain. Sure, the Russians have not been without some good fortune in their quest. Nevertheless they are certainly deserving of a semi-final place and their attacking football in the last two games has won them over on the side of many neutrals. The Russians are a win away from a finals appearance, and two from a championship win. This was a possibility unthinkable a mere two weeks ago. But it was an outcome easily divined once coach Guus Hiddink’s brought in Andrei Arshavin (even though he was suspended for the first two games). Hiddick’s move has defined Russia’s tournament.
If you would have suggested that Russia would be a semi-final contender two weeks ago would have been greeted with doubt if not raucous laughter. After all, Russia couldn’t have begun the tournament any worse than they did in their opening game with Spain in Salzburg. In spite of a decent start, in which they held the ball well but lacked urgency, Russia conceded a very cheap goal when Fernando Torres skinned Denis Kolodin to set up David Villa. Everything went to pieces after that. The Spaniards eventually won 4-1, with Villa netting a hat-trick, a rare thing in international football and harsh lesson for the Russians. The Slavs performance was atrocious. Poor passing, no running off the ball, no pace to their game, and suicidal defending greased Spain’s victory. The Russians, however, would learn from the defeat.
Russia’s next match against Greece was a do-or-die game for both teams. Both had lost their opening games. The Greeks went down 2-0 to Sweden in an insipid performance. Although Russia improved immensely from the first match, their play was extremely nervous and uncertain. Their fate hinged on a goalkeeping disaster at 33 minutes when Nikopolodis charged rashly from his line to deal with a hopeless through ball from Bilyatidinov. Sergei Semak beat Nikopolodis and crossed the ball for Konstantin Zyrianov to push it into an empty net. It gave Russia 1-0 lead and the precious lifeline they desperately needed. The second half petered out into possibly the worst game of the tournament. The expected Greek lacked effort and their comeback never materialized. Three precious points for the Russians now meant a win against Sweden would take them through to the last eight.
Arshavin came back just in time to duel with the Swedes. Russia looked immensely improved to battle their medieval rivals. After a shaky start, the Russians took control of the ball and hardly lost it for almost an hour. By half, they had an unassailable 2-0 lead against a Swedish team which simply forgot to show up. Arshavin skinned Mellburg and Nillsonn time and again on the Swedish right, immediately validating Hiddick’s move to bring him onboard. After a number of misses Russia finally took the lead on 24 minutes when Anyukov crossed to an unmarked Pavluchenko who slotted home. Russia kept Sweden on the ropes until their second goal when Zhrikov crossed for Arshavin to calmly slot home.
Russia lost a lot of control in the game from that point on, easily and often surrendering possession, but there was no need to worry. Sweden’s strikers couldn’t hit the side of a barn. Russia could have gobbled up more goals on the break, but 2-0 satisfied their hunger. And so, for the first time ever, a Russian national football team reached the second round of a major tournament. Finally some joy for their long-suffering fans.
Much has been written about Russia’s victory over Holland. And frankly, much of it is rubbish. There is no doubt Russia outplayed them, even embarrassed them. But much of the analysis fails to take a number of important factors into account. First, Holland went up in smoke. This is not unusual and football fans are well aware of the Dutch tendency to implode when the world is at their feet. Secondly, the management on the Dutch bench was as incompetent as it was lazy. No attempt was made to change things significantly, especially on the tactical front. It was clear from the start that Sneijder, Van Der Vaart and De Jong were being cleaned out by Ignashevich and Kolodin. Although Robbin Van Persie did come on at half time, Anyukov simply disappeared. The Dutch were also clearly exhausted and the Russians obviously much fitter.
None of this is to take away from Russia’s excellent performance. It was probably the single best performance ever by a Russian national team. From early on they took the game to Holland and eventually were rewarded early in the second half when Semak crossed for Pavlyuchenko to score. From this point on, a Dutch comeback was expected but it never happened. Laboured, tired and listless, the Dutch were consistently beaten to 50/50 balls and were reduced to sporadic shots that went hopelessly wide or over. The Russians motored on and kept the Dutch at arms length in total comfort, until disaster struck right at the end when Van Nistelrooy headed an inswinger past Akinfeev from close in. That was hard blow to the Russians, but in extra time they took up where they left off and almost completely dominated in midfield. Early in the second period of extra-time, the Dutch finally collapsed when, for the umpteenth time Arshavin skinned Andre Oijer and crossed for Torbinskii to finish sweetly. A short time later Arshavin himself killed off the Dutch with a cool finish at the far post. With that, Moscow exploded.
So, can Russia really win it all? The Russians are now at the centre of much speculation and indeed betting, and they certainly can win the tournament. They are without a doubt the darlings of the championship and loved by neutrals for their attacking football. Beating the Dutch would have won them a lot of fans around Europe too. But is all this enough? A lot of comparisons have been made, especially with Greece in 2004, but I’m sure Hiddink would prefer another role model. Greece was the most unpopular winners ever, owing to their atrocious style of play. Russia in ‘08 is more like Denmark in 1992: swashbuckling, all-attack and hugely entertaining. There is no doubt the Russians can beat Spain, and may well do so.
Still, Russia is not without its problems. Kolodin and Torbinskii are suspended and the former is likely to be replaced by Vasilli Berezutskii, an off-form player who hasn’t kicked a ball in the tournament yet. He’s facing a long night marking Fernando Torres. Spain will be battled hardened and wily after their bruising encounter with Italy, and the Russian habit of standing off forwards and allowing them to run at Ignashevich and Berezutskii will be punished, just as Denis Kolodin was against the Greeks. Russia’s weakest link by far is their goalkeeper Akinfeev, who is surely the poorest left in the tournament. Also the game with Holland may have taken a lot out of the Russians both physically and mentally. Performances as big as that are very difficult to follow up. Hiddink however, has, as usual, come up trumps so far, so too have the players and it may not be beyond the Russians to bring the cup home….
Vperyod, Rossiya!
Russia v Spain, Euro 2008 Semi-Final, Thursday June 26th 22.45 MSK, 19.45 GMT, 14.45 EST 11.45 PST
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36 Comments so far
I would make a comment if I knew anything about sports, which I don’t, so I won’t (except to say that the score is now Ger 4, Mike 0). I shall simply let this speak for itself: http://www.rian.ru/sport/20080624/111913246.html
Awesome. But I’m surprised they didn’t wait to see if Russia wins the cup. Little Guus might be a loser.
”I would make a comment if I knew anything about sports, which I don’t, so I won’t (except to say that the score is now Ger 4, Mike 0).”
Thanks Chris, though to be honest you know more than Mike Averko. And if you look here:
http://www.russiablog.org/2008/06/russia_advances_for_showdown_w.php
Mike has captioned one of the pics ‘fans in Red Square’. Which would be all very well, but the picture is of Manezhnaya Ploschad, not Krasnaya Ploschad:-) Has this man really been to Moscow…?
By the way Germany have beaten Turkey in a thriller and if Russia get to the final, they’ll have to beat them to get their hands on the cup.
Thanks for posting the piece Sean:-)
Hey, I just got back from seeing the Sex Pistols. Who would have thought my adolescent dream of seeing the Sex Pistols would finally come true after 20 years in Moscow in 2008. I have now sung along to God Save the Queen in a concert hall full of screaming Russians, and I have heard drunk Russians singing Anarchy in the UK in the metro, and I can now die happy.
Thanks for writing it, ger.
Chris, did they play Bodies? Bodies is my favorite.
”Who would have thought my adolescent dream of seeing the Sex Pistols would finally come true after 20 years in Moscow in 2008. I have now sung along to God Save the Queen in a concert hall full of screaming Russians, and I have heard drunk Russians singing Anarchy in the UK in the metro, and I can now die happy.”
Sounds like you had a good time there!:-)In fairness they are pure class. Where was it held?
Their repertoire isn’t very big Sean, they played everything.
They started with Pretty Vacant, then Liar, Problem, No Fun, Bodies, Belsen Was a Gas, Anarchy, God Save the Queen, Submission, EMI, Seventeen, I Did You No Wrong, Stepping Stone, and the final song was a cover of Roadrunner.
It was fucking awesome. The person I went with knew nothing about the Pistols and she was amazed. Johnny’s voice is still incredible, and he’s really funny. And, they know how to play now.
It was Luzhniki, Ger.
”Johnny’s voice is still incredible, and he’s really funny.”
Holy crap, it’s only been three hours and they’re already on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPdk9Ln–iw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpYrodo9nl0
Hey, if you want to hear classic punk (Pistols, Clash, Damned, Stranglers, Ramones) just come to Kyiv and catch my band, the Gunts (shameless plug.)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10272828581
“Hey, if you want to hear classic punk (Pistols, Clash, Damned, Stranglers, Ramones) just come to Kyiv and catch my band, the Gunts (shameless plug.)”
What I need is for all the surviving members of the Pistols, the Clash, the Ramones, the Buzzcocks, X-Ray Spex, the Slits, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the Damned to form one really big band — nay, a giant punk orchestra! — and come to Moscow.
I don’t even like American punk much, but one must include the Ramones.
(I would like to see the Slits, come to think of it.)
The Ramones are difficult not to love. For American proto-punk (Other than the New York Dolls, etc.) I recommend The Dictators.
I have never in fact heard the Dictators. Speaking of CBGB-type stuff, I’m a big fan of the Patty Smith of that era, but I don’t know if she counts as punk.
With the exception of some of the DKs and the Minutemen, US punk always stuck me as kind of fake (and the DKs moved into annoying preachiness, which I hate — don’t even get me started about Crass, the band most responsible for turning Punks into Hippies). Maybe it’s that British culture is just a bit more hardcore.
To bring this back on topic, I suggest an issue to debate:
If the Sex Pistols were a football team, and Mike Averko were a football team, which would win in a fight?
I’ve never even heard of Crass.
Really? They started the whole anarcho-punk/vegetarian-punk/feminist-punk/”socially conscious”-punk thing with the album Feeding of the 5000 in, what was it, 1979 I think. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crass
Sean’s spam filter has trapped my previous message. Crass started the whole anarcho/vegetarian/feminist/”socially conscious”-punk thing in the late 70s. They most famously faked a tape recording of a conversation between Thatcher and Reagan that the FBI thought was the work of the KGB.
”If the Sex Pistols were a football team, and Mike Averko were a football team, which would win in a fight?”
It has to be the Pistols. They’re British so they’d know a thing about football or two.
And, unlike Mike, they have obviously been to Moscow:-)
“And, unlike Mike, they have obviously been to Moscow:-)”
HA!!
Johnny Rotten, the Irish-troll-propped legendary punk singer…
”HA!!
Johnny Rotten, the Irish-troll-propped legendary punk singer…”
Yes, trolls trolling with the troll of trolls. The troll who calls himself ”Johnny Rotten” is a troll and a buttmunch. Worse is his cyber troll sidekick Chrisius Maximus, who comes on here as a Cheerleader for the Not-So-Queen-and-British-Establishment-Friendly Sex Pistols!:-)
Seriously though I couldnt believe that mistake. There’s no doubt its Manazh Square. Mike saw the History Museum and called it wrong. Was he in Moscow? Let the readers decide:-)
Kindly note that Russia Today reported on the Sex Pistols concert, and Johnny said something nice about Russia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8AeV7XqEkQ
RT is funded by the Russian government. This means that the Russian government was propping Johnny Rotten, thus making him a court appointed Russia friendly. This is airtime that could have been better spent by promoting the Russia friendly views of other more deserving people, thereby more fully realizing the potential of RT, as well as showing the pro British punk music parallel biases of the Russian government.
”RT is funded by the Russian government. This means that the Russian government was propping Johnny Rotten, thus making him a court appointed Russia friendly.”
And he’s a troll. He’s been trolling in and around the whole punk scene for 30 years.
Standing up to trolling isnt trolling, troll. The Eng. lang. mASS media has been promoting the trolling likes of Court Appointed Punk Musicians while more talented others are ignored!!
Chrisius Maximus:
I’ve already stolen your “This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision” comment for myself. Now I am going to have to find a way to archive this Johnny Rotten thread. I’m smitten with your humour.
All:
Since people here were paying attention to the eXile fiasco, you may be interested to know that … you saved it. Yes, You! (cough) Look-see: http://www.exile.ru/
Team Rossiia:
Ouch. My condolences…
I don’t get it. How much money do they need to operate a website?
You’re not a hippy, are you, poemless? I don’t trust hippies.
What, do I give off a “hippie” vibe or something? No. I wear shoes and eat meat and have, I would say, quite acceptable hygiene. I’ve been known to listen to Akvarium. Otherwise, no. Not a hippie.
A hippy would lie, though, wouldn’t she?
“Poemless” is a hippy name. It evokes poesy, daisies, and polka-dotted ponies. A punk would use a name like “gob-launcher” or something.
Plus you’re named poemless. No self respecting hippie would denigrate the verse. That is unless you are engaging in some hippieite irony.
No, a punk would name himself Wattie (i.e. from the Exploited), Hickey, Snot, or Pockets. I met a punk named Pockets on Melrose many years back. He was begging for methadone money, which I found strange because I thought they gave that out for free.
Chris, your fantasy was to see the Pistols. Mine was to see Bauhaus. Life is complete. I did fall for one of the Damned’s last (which really turned out to be the first of many) “reunion tours”. At least Captain Sensible got naked.
My three most memorable concert moments were seeing Skinny Puppy for the first time(Too Dark Park tour), sitting front row at a Killing Joke show (my ears weren’t happy), and being at a Jane’s Addition show that lasted about 20 minutes. Someone threw a shoe at Perry Ferral’s head. He promptly stopped the show, lectured the crowd about throwing shoes, and walked off. Classic.
Oh and every time I see Einstuerzende Neubauten, I get a chubby.
Hey, how was Bauhaus? They are one of the few bands from my teenage days I still listen to. “Michael Averko is dead, undead, undead, undead.”
For those interested in this sort of thing, the entirety of Rotten’s rather awesome Moscow press conference is here (”you do not want me angry!”): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhRY95kaXxI
Oh, good grief. You think poemless is a hippy name? I always thought it evoked some romantic existentialist lament about being in the world or something. Boy, am I out of touch with the masses. I was a goth kid in HS and a bolshevik in college. I don’t know what I am now. I had a long, torrid relationship with a poet who had writer’s block, which somehow led to this name.
Dirty hippy.
“being in the world”
My dissertation was on Heidegger, you know.
“I’ve already stolen your “This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision” comment for myself.”
Hey! You totally did!
Yes. I totally did. Why is it so hard to believe anything I say?
That your dissertation was on Heidegger is very cool. I’m not sure if I believe you though.