Tschertschessow makes his men sweat in Tyrol
For the third time before a major tournament, the Russian national soccer team pitched its tents in Neustift in the Stubai Valley. At the 2018 World Cup in their own country, the “Sbornaja” only failed in the quarter-finals due to later vice-champion Croatia. Three years later, head coach Stanislaw Tschertschessow wants to aim similarly high at the EM. “The expectation is always high, but we expect ourselves to repeat that,” said the ex-goalie.
Russia initially competes twice in Group B with fellow favorites Belgium, Finland and Denmark in front of their own audience. “Yes, they are good opponents, but that's what we came here for,” said Tschertschessow. Belgium and Finland are guests in St. Petersburg – according to the current state, 30,050 spectators would be allowed. “On the one hand it is of course an advantage, but on the other hand it is only up to us and how we prepare,” said the former FC Tirol goalkeeper. “Home advantage only matters when you are in top shape,” he added.
Seasoned players such as strikers Artyom Dsyuba, Yuri Schirkow, Andrei Semjonow and Denis Cheryshev have remained from the core of the World Cup team. The squad has not yet been finalized, however, and Tschertschessow has not yet revealed his final 26-man squad. Longstanding supporters like Alexander Samedow and Sergei Ignaschewitsch will no longer be able to help, in the meantime they have ended their careers.
“I have a lot of new players, it's a new experience for many, and we have to see how we behave in such a big tournament,” said Tschertschessow in an interview with the APA. There are not even a handful of legionnaires in the squad, including Valencia winger Cheryshev, Alexej Mirantschuk from Atalanta and Alexander Golovin from Monaco. “Yes, unfortunately, but I hope that many players will leave us in this direction after this European Championship”, he commented on this situation, which is not new for Russia.
The team will move the base camp during the European Championship to the Novogorsk training center in the Moscow region. The right preparation is the most important thing, emphasized “Stani” Tschertschessow, who has been in office and dignity since 2016 and will therefore be one of the longest serving coaches at the EURO. “Then comes the second step: start well and then go from game to game. Don't talk big now,” said the 57-year-old in the relaxed manner that is typical for him.
It starts for Tschertschessow and his protégés against Belgium on June 12th. Before that, tests will be carried out against Poland (June 1) and Bulgaria (June 5).
