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Hiddink Cuts Ivanov, Pavlenko

Oleg Ivanov and Alexander Pavlenko have been cut from Russia’s preliminary 25-man squad as Guus Hiddink annouced his final 23-man squad for the European Championships earlier.

Not to be hard done by, Hiddink (if still in the Russian hotseat come the start of the Premier League campaign in England in August) has suggested Ivanov and Pavlenko will both be used to their full ability for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign at the end of the summer.

Russia’s 23 man squad looks like this…

Akinfeyev, Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg), Gabulov (Amkar Perm); Ignashevich, Berezutsky, Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Kolodin (Dynamo Moscow), Yanbayev (Lokomotiv Moscow); Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Zhirkov, Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Torbinsky (Lokomotiv Moscow), Bystrov (Spartak Moscow), Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Semak (Rubin Kazan); Arshavin, Pogrebnyak (Zenit St Petersburg), Pavlyuchenko (Spartak Moscow), Sychev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Adamov, Saenko (Nurnberg).

While Hiddink is one of the favourites to replace the recently-fired Avram Grant at Chelsea, reports coming from his agent suggest there’s no chance he’ll accept the role at Stamford Bridge. In fairness, I wouldn’t blame him as well. It would be a shame to see a manager of his calibre ditched after just one season in the league if he failed to produce a league title or European glory. We all know that’s what would happen anyway, right?

Popularity: 17% [?]

Andrei Arshavin To Miss Spain, Greece

Russia will be missing their talisman captain in Andrei Arshavin for the first two group games of Euro 2008 against Spain and Greece.

With Spain and Greece providing the likely tougher opposition that Greece it isn’t clear whether Arshavin will now make Euro 2008 at all after have the suspension handed down for a sending off against Andorra.

Guus Hiddink has already revealed he would have left Arshavin out of his summer squad had the ban been issued at three games instead of two. This might put a little dent in Ruud Gullit’s earlier claim that Russia may make the quarter final if not beyond.

I can’t see Arshavin NOT making the Euro 2008 trip in the summer but losing their captain for the vital games of the group stage, particularly against Spain, is bound to be a massive blow - both to the team and to Arshavin himself.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Hiddink Makes Russia ‘Even More Dangerous’

Guus Hiddink has made Russia “even more dangerous” according to LA Galaxy manager Ruud Gullit. The former Dutch skipper says that his compatriot has been exceptional in his role as Russian head coach and it could make the difference at Euro 2008.

If Gullit is to be believed and as suggested, the players maintain the immense sense of belief that Hiddink has instilled in them, we could be looking at Russia in the quarter finals, or even beyond.

While Group C has been dubbed the group of death, all four teams in Group D are as much of a threat to each other with Russia having to overcome early favourites Spain, current holders Greece and Sweden to advance to the quarter finals. Gullit was speaking to Reuters in Moscow when he added “the Russians have always had good players, so they can very well be a surprise team next year in Austria and Switzerland. Besides, Hiddink is an extremely lucky coach and that makes Russia even more dangerous.”

If you’re a betting man, UNIBET
are offering odds of 36/1 on Russia to lift the trophy in June. Not too bad. They’re also 6/1 to top their own group (Group D), could be worth a punt.

While Hiddink might have made the Russians more dangerous, they’ll be put to task against Spain and Greece and I can’t honestly see them going on to win the competition, let alone make the quarter final stages. Can you?

Popularity: 49% [?]

Bojan Krkic Won’t Be A Theo Walcott

I’m delighted to see that Luis Aragones has declared he won’t be bringing Bojan Krkic to Euro 2008.

When Sven Eriksson announced the inclusion of Theo Walcott in his World Cup squad for 2006 I thought he’d actually lost the plot. Sure enough, Walcott was the subject of a big money transfer but he was no way near the level needed to compete on the international stage, on the World Cup stage. Likewise is the situation with Krkic.

The Barcelona 17 year old is considered to be one of the hottest prospects in Spanish football and a surefire prospect for the national team in the future. Though he might be disappointed, at least he won’t be dragged along like it’s a school tour, standing on the sidelines while the big boys get stuck in. That and the fact that he hasn’t made his senior Spanish debut yet. Give the chap a few friendlies first!

Krkic is good at what he does. Joint top scorer last summer in the U17 championships, he’s represented Spain at both U17 and U21 level. He’s got a bright future ahead of him, already having made his full Barcelona debut and scoring for the senior team in La Liga this season (youngest Barcelona player ever to do so) and while he might be disappointed I think he’ll actually benefit more from not being involved than heading off to Austria.

One thing is for certain though, if he keeps going the way he is at present, he’s likely to be making a Spanish appearance at the 2010 World Cup.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Raul Set For Euro 2008 Inclusion

Despite Luis Aragones overlooking the inclusion of Raul in the Spanish team since their early Euro 2008 qualifiers, the Madrid forward who is currently top of the goal scoring charts in La Liga (eight goals) has not been ruled out of a place in the Spanish squad for their Group D encounters with Greece, Russia and Sweden in the summer.

The fact that he is currently joint top scorer in the league may well have boosted his chances for a recall in June. Raul faces stiff competition from the likes of Raul Tamudo, David Villa and Liverpool’s Fernando Torres who is currently on fire for Liverpool with 11 goals so far for the club this season, especially considering he’s not starting every game.

The bottom line from Aragones is that if Raul plays well, then like every one else he’s got a chance of making the squad. The Real Madrid man turns 31 during the competition next summer so it could be his last major competition to feature with Spain.

Popularity: 4% [?]

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