Headache for Hiddink ahead of crucial battle in Helsinki
Published 05 June, 2009, 17:30
Team Russia have held their first training session ahead of next week's World Cup Qualifier match against Finland. A victory in Helsinki would put Russia right back in contention to win the group.
Guus Hiddink has finished his loan spell at Chelsea, and is now continuing with his task of trying to get Russia to next year's World Cup Finals in South Africa.
They're up against Finland next Wednesday, and despite beating their group rivals 3-0 earlier in the qualifying campaign, the Dutchman is expecting a much harder match this time.
If Russia have serious ambitions about qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa automatically, then the game in Helskini is crucial.
A win would put them just a point behind current leaders Germany in the group 4 table, while a defeat would mean they'd effectively be battling it out for second place with the Finns.
Hiddink has a couple of injury problems ahead of the game. First choice Right Back, Aleksandr Anukov, is out through suspension, while fellow defender Sergey Ignashevich and captain Sergey Semak are doubtful. And it seems Semak, who didn't train with the side for the majority of the session, is the bigger concern.
There is a welcome return to the national set-up for Aleksandr Kerzhakov, after around 18 months in the international wilderness. The Dynamo striker has been in good form for his club, so far this season, scoring five goals in nine games. And with Roman Pavlychenko and Pavel Pogrebnyak perhaps not in the greatest form, there is a chance that he might partner the team's talisman, Andrey Arshavin in attack.
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