Preview ARM-RUS: Russia look to extend lead

March 21st, 2011 | by: nick | Comments(6)

Hello to all Russia fans. We are moving into the spring UEFA Euro 2012 qualification cycle and Russia are currently is first place in Group B. Russia will face Armenia in Yerevan on Saturday, March 26. These two sides also met in Yerevan during the Euro 2000 qualification campaign on March 27, 1999.

Russia
Russia go into this game as group leaders with the objective to gain all three points and keep their lead. Having lost to Belgium and Iran in their last two outings, Dick Adovcaat’s men have the fighting spirit as CSKA and Zenit were narrowly eliminated from the Europa League last week. Many fans will also point to the 1999 meeting between these two sides which resulted in a 3-0 victory for Russia, but circumstances are very different nearly a decade later. In terms of personnel, Advocaat has chosen a fairly seasoned squad with Aleksei Ionov being the only major new face in the squad. Ionov as shown incredible skill down the right wing during FC Zenit’s Europa League campaign. He comes into the squad for the injured Vladimir Bystrov. Rubin Kazan goalkeeper Sergey Ryzhikov is also called to possibly replace Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Armenia
Armenia will have confidence to play on after defeating Slovakia 3-1 last autumn. This game will be pivotal for Armenia’s qualification campaign. A victory will possibly put them in first place with ten points while a loss will leave them scraping for points. A lot is at stake in other matches as Armenia is also level with Slovakia and Ireland for second place. Depending on the other results Armenia could wind up falling very far behind.

Predication: ARM 1-1 RUS
Russia are likely to have a very hard time as Armenia are never an easy side when playing them in Yerevan.