By Manesh Upadhyaya
The
second installment of Manesh Upadhyaya's weekly pieces previewing each
team competing in UEFA Euro
2012.
Russia
Group:
A
Manager: Dick Advocaat
Best Euro finish: Winners
1960 (USSR)
Schedule: Russia vs. Czech Republic on Friday, June
8
Poland vs. Russia on Tuesday,
June 12
Greece vs. Russia on Saturday, June 16
The last time
Russia tasted European glory – in 1960 to be exact – it was still
referred to as the USSR. 48 years on, the team came ever so close to
eclipsing its 1988 semifinal run. Bettering its past achievements this
summer is an arduous task, but not impossible.
Memories of its UEFA Euro 2008 semifinal defeat to
eventual champion Spain will still be fresh in the players' minds. The
majority of the Austria-Switzerland contingent remains in the current
squad, which in turn builds a foundation of understanding and
familiarity among the players.
Euro 2008's
semifinalists won their respective qualifying group, thus propelling
them to this year's championships automatically. In doing so, they
scored 17 goals – eight of them coming against Andorra alone.
Lokomtiv Moscow forward Roman Pavlyuchenko and CSKA
Moscow midfielder Alan Dzagoev both chipped in with four each, leading
the team in scoring. However, the latter will miss the rest of the
Russian Premier League season after breaking his toe and undergoing
surgery. Manager Dick Advocaat will most likely wait until the last
minute to decide whether to take the promising youngster to Poland and
Ukraine.
On-loan Fulham forward Pavel Pogrebnyak
managed only two goals in qualifying, though, his performances for the
London club since his January move from German side Stuttgart have been
nothing less than spectacular.
The Russian bagged six
goals in his first eight games for the Cottagers, including a hat-trick
against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In a span of eight games, Pogrebnyak
went from Premier League newcomer to Fulham's second best scorer in the
league – just 10 goals shy of Clint Dempsey's 16. Russia's likelihood of
winning Group A will grow tremendously if he is consistently involved.
To improve the chances of progression even more,
Russia's defending has been integral to the team’s recent success.
Advocaat's men, unbeaten in their last 10 matches,
tied with France for the second best defense in qualifying. They
conceded just four goals – only Italy allowed less (two). The
back line is well organized, making it difficult for teams to break
down. It is one of the main reasons the team reached the semifinals four
years ago.
Dzagoev's club teammate and veteran
defender Sergei Ignashevich has his Euro future hanging in the balance
as well after suffering a broken toe in training. It is unclear whether
he needs surgery. The Russian contributed with one goal in the
qualifying campaign and remains hopeful to be back in action sooner
rather than later.
"It is hard to imagine a worse
time for an injury," Ignashevich told UEFA.com. "The injury is not that
serious as I've avoided a cast. I hope to help my team again this
season."
Final
Verdict
The Russians are clear favorites to
win Group A. However, even if they place second, Germany, the
Netherlands, Portugal or Denmark stands in their way. Given the teams
Advocaat's squad could potentially face, I don't see them getting past
the quarterfinals. That's not to say they aren't capable of pulling off
the upset. The Russians did beat the Dutch in the 2008 quarterfinals and
on their day, if they maintain their focus and resolve, they can be a
very tough side to beat.
Czech
Republic
Group: A
Manager: Michal
Bilek
Best Euro finish: Winners 1976
(Czechoslovakia)
Schedule: Russia vs. Czech Republic on Friday,
June 8
Greece vs. Czech Republic on Tuesday, June
12
Czech Republic vs. Poland on Saturday, June 16
On
paper the Czech Republic seems like Group A's obvious choice to advance
to the quarterfinals, but manager Michal Bilek's side lacks firepower
upfront and is under a considerable amount of pressure after poor
results in recent major tournaments.
"We know we’re
not among the top favorites," Bilek told UEFA.com. "Quite a lot of
influential players have finished their football
careers."
The days of enjoying Jan Koller's power and
Pavel Nedved's guile are things of the past. Generally, the Czech's
style of play is quite easy on the eye. Remarkably, just four out of the
12 strikers deployed in qualifying managed to score. Milan Baros, Euro
2004's Golden Boot winner, only scored once for his country in two
years. Jan Rezek led the front line with a staggering two
goals.
Sadly enough, Bayer Leverkusen defender Michal
Kadlec leads the team scoring chart, netting four times. An
ever-present in qualifying, he's Bilek's only player to feature in all
10 qualifying matches.
Midfielders Thomas Rosicky of
Arsenal and Jaroslav Plasil of Bordeaux definitely need to be at their
best this summer. Their creative ability, vision and experience are
exactly what is needed to make up for their misfiring
forwards.
Unlike the Russians, the Czechs do not have
fond memories of Euro 2008 – goal keeper Petr Cech in particular.
Before the 2008 tournament, Cech lost to Manchester United in the UEFA
Champions League final while playing for Chelsea. He went on to have a
lackluster outing at the following Euros, conceding two late goals
against Turkey, sending the Czech Republic out in its final group
game.
This year, Cech finds himself in yet another
Champions League final, preceding yet another European Championship.
Hopefully the veteran goalie can hold his nerve regardless of what
happens at the Allianz Arena on May
19.
Final
Verdict
If you want to advance, you need to
score. You cannot rest on your laurels and hope for other matches to
pan out in your favor. For me, Bilek's strikers' inability to put the
ball in the net is not what you want heading into a tournament. The
experience on hand will see the Czechs through to the quarterfinals, but
not as group winners. They should beat the Poles and Greeks, but their
match against the Russians will be interesting. I do not see them
progressing any further.
Manesh Upadhyaya can be
reached at maneshupadhyaya@gmail.com
or on Twitter @ManeshUPADHYAYA
