Squad/Formation
Capello’s team is keeping the same well rested squad that was supposed to face their British rivals. With that, Capello will have quite a bit of flexibility in terms of picking a formation. Given the 2-2 draw with Italy, Russia will likely try to control the center of the pitch through passing and possession with a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-1-3-2. Controlling the midfield will be key since this particular Brazilian team relies heavily on Oscar in the attacking midfield. The passing trio of Shirokov, Denisov, and Fayzulin will likely start and form the core of the lineup. Dzagoev and Kombarov will provide the width and Kerzhkov the firepower. Russia’s players will also be very familiar with Zenit’s Hulk who will likely be leading the Brazilian frontline.

Players to Watch
Aleksandr Kerzhakov: Kerzhakov has been Russia’s first choice striker for several years after being one of the first backups. His service to the national team spans over a decade since making his debut in 2002. Look for him to be penetrating the Brazilian back line.

Oleg Shatov: In contrast to Kerzhakov, Shatov is a debutant with only one cap to his name. He is not a first choice player yet but Capello sees him as substitute in any midfield position due to his versatility.

Capello and his men know that anything less than a victory will soften their Group F cushion against Portugal. Portugal in the meantime, will be playing against Israel in Tel Aviv. Despite the loss of Nani, Portugal are widely expected to walk away with all three points.

Squad
Capello has picked a usual squad by recalling many of the established players he did not call up for the last two friendlies against the United States and Iceland. With Yuri Zhirkov an injury doubt, Yevgeni Yeschenko or Dmitri Kombarov will likely take the left back duties. Notable call ups include Kirill Nababkin, Vladimir Granat, and Dmitri Tarasov all of whom return after a lengthy absence.

Formation
Capello will likely use an attacking formation to score an early goal and dominate the match early. In September, Capello a 4-2-3-1 which worked very well in controlling the passing and tempo of the game. Aside from the already mentioned change at the back, Capello will likely play four or five midfielders. Viktor Fayzulin, Roman Shirokov, and Igor Denisov are likely to form the core of the lineup that will dictate the game. On the wings, Capello may give Aleksandr Samedov or recent debutant Oleg Shatov a chance while Dmitri Kombarov also remains a possibility.

Up front the obvious first choice candidate is Aleksandr Kerzhakov, but with the recent form of Aleksandr Kokorin, Capello may have some considerations to make. Kokorin has been a first choice player this season at Dynamo Moskva and has so far found the net nine times in just over twenty league games. He might me worthy of a starting place.

Players to Watch
Igor Denisov: the current captain of the team will control the tempo of the game. His partnership with Shirokov will feed the ball forward to Fayzulin.

Aleksandr Anyukov: the fullback is one of the less mentioned players in the team, he will most likely be a starter and will cover the right flank.

The match will be live on ESPN3 at 3.45PM EDT in the US.

There is not much to analyze from this match since it was only a friendly but it does provoke some thoughts:

Fabio Capello is bringing back the 4-5-1 formation
Russia have historically favored a packed midfield with an isolated forward up front. Guus Hiddink changed that and introduced a 4-1-3-2 which worked extremely well at Euro 2008. Dick Advocaat brought back the 4-5-1 in a limited capacity but it closely mirrored a 4-3-3. Now we see Fabio Capello is going back to a formation at suits Russia’s strengths.

Oleg Shatov may be the first choice right-back
Shatov who plies his trade for FC Anzhi Makhachkala made his debut for the national team and did so in style. He replaced the first choice right-back Aleksandr Anyukov in the 47th minute and from that point on lit up the right flank. It looks like Anyukov could be facing some very stiff competition.

Roman Shirokov could permanently replace Andrei Arshavin
Since the Euro 2012 debacle and omission of Arshavin, Roman Shirokov has taken his place of the primary playmaker in the team. His goal today marks his fourth in the last five months and it is hard to see Arshavin coming back.

Yuri Zhirkov will go back to being a midfielder
Just prior to Euro 2008, Yuri Zhirkov was converted from a leftwinger to a leftback. He has occupied the left flank of the back line quite superbly, but since Fabio Capello favors using Andrei Yeschenko in either of the fullback positions. It is possible Zhirkov could return to his backline role but it looks like he is taking up his davanced position again.

Russia will be playing Northern Ireland on 13 March 2013.

After four years with the club, Arshavin only had two decent seasons with consistent appearances and goal scoring. This year there seems to be credibility that he will leave the Emirates for good. Arsene Wenger came out in early December to declare that the player has no future at Arsenal and is definitely on his way out. But this begs the question, where will Arshavin’s next destination be?

Here is are the rumored destinations:

Reading FC
The British football press seem to put Reading FC as the most probable destination. Reading would be a nice destination for Arshavin as could have the opportunity to play regularly and become a team leader joining his national teammate Pavel Pogrebnyak. But the latest news seems to indicate that Arshavin is not interested in a move to the struggling Premiership side.

PSV
On paper PSV looks like another strong destination for Arshavin, but because of their squad depth it may become another term on the bench. But on the flip side, Arshavin may flourish under Dick Advocaat much like their days together at Zenit.

S.S. Lazio
Lazio seem to be interested in signing Arshavin but with attacking players like Miroslav Klose, Stefano Mauri, Mauro Zárate, and Antonio Candreva, there may not be any room for another player in that capacity.

Lets see how this will pan out this year.

Squad
This match was clearly the emergence of Viktor Fayzulin as a menacing weapon in Russian attack. His contribution to the two latter goals cements him as one of the first choice midfielders. Similarly, Alexander Samedov on came early and maintained complete control of the rightwing and eventually provided the cross for Fayzulin to complete the goal tally. The crown player of the evening was obviously Aleksandr Kerzhakov who scored two goals and gave Russia the early momentum.

Formation
Capello continued with a 4-2-3-1 which worked optimally. Russia controlled the match in every respect including the midfield, flanks, and upper third. The Denisov-Shirokov partnership in midfield, replacing the Semshov-Zyrianov duo, dictated the pace of the game and built the play leading to the second and third goals. At the start of the second half, the formation responded well to Israel’s attacks, putting ten men behind the ball.

Impact Players
Aleksandr Kerzhakov: After not making the scoresheet at Euro 2012, he is coming back to form with two goals to put the game into Russia’s hands.

Viktor Fayzilin: He put on a second straight solid performance. He is clearly the successor to Igor Semshov in central midfield.

Worst Moment
Minute 44: A lapse in concentration allows Mahran Radi to pick up a long cross with room to slot it in but he fails to do so giving Russia relief in a late Israeli attack.

Best Moment
Minute 64: A beautiful passing play puts Fayzulin on the inner left wing who volleys over to an advancing Kerzhakov to triple the advantage.

Lineup
Capello did not make any drastic changes to the squad of his predecessor. With the likes of Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko ommited, this opened the door to players like Viktor Fayzulin, Dmitri Kombarov, and Aleksandr Kokorin. This certainly created more attackting options with fresher midfielders and strikers.

Formation
The formation was the habitual 4-2-3-1 with Alan Dzagoev in the attacking position flanked by Fayzulin and Bystrov supporting Kerzhakov up front. The midfield pair of Denisov and Shirokov covered the Kombarov, Berezutski, Ignashevich, and Anyukov at the back. Overall it performed very well, functioning in a quick short passing game. Kerzhakov went scoreless in this match but found himself providing the low cross for Fayzulin’s goal.

Impact Players
Victor Fayzulin: He made a major impact in only his second cap by scoring the first goal which effectively gave Russia control of the match.

Aleksandr Kokorin: His introduction continued to pile the pressure on Northern Ireland with his speed and eventually led to the hotly contested penalty.

Best Moment
Minute 30: Viktor Fayzulin slots in a low cross into a half open net after some neat short passing play.

Worst Moment
Minute 54: Dmitri Kombarov’s corner is headed wide of a clear open goal.

The Euro 2012 debacle has undoubtedly created a blow in the confidence of the players, the training staff, and the administration of the team. But Russia can look back at the qualification campaign and know that they have the ability to perform and top the group. It was done under Dick Advocaat and Fabio Capello has done it in two campaigns with England.

Squad
Capello’s determination will be to win this match. And he will do what he can to walk away with a victory. In terms of the squad, Capello has brought in a large pool of fresh talent to supplant or replace the usual core players. With Arshavin, Semshov, Zhirkov, Pogrebnyak and Pavlyuchenko gone, Capello has increased the depth of the team with players like Taras Burlak, Georgi Schennikov, Viktor Fayzulin, and Artyom Dzyuba.

Formation
Against the Ivory Coast, Capello used a 4-2-3-1/4-5-1 with an experimental squad designed to assess the capabilities and potential of the current team as well as the improvements to be made for the qualification campaign. The formation worked reasonably well throughout most of Dick Advocaat’s reign and there is no real reason to drastically change it.

Players to Watch
Viktor Fayzulin: This speedy winger has been the mainstay of Zenit and made a huge contribution to their capture of the UEFA Cup in 2008. Look for him on either side to speed down the wing.

Georgi Schennikov: One of the up and coming flank players in Russia, Schennikov is the first choice leftback who has made a major contribution to CSKA’s recent seasons. He is the likely successor to Yuri Zhirkov and look for him to play a starting role.

Coverage of the match begins at 11AM EDT on ESPN3

Since Euro 2012 ended, the blogosphere and sports journalism world have been rife with speculation about Dick Adovcaat’s successor to lead the Russian national side. Candidates have been rumored, touted, and played down, but three days ago the Russian Football Union released a list of thirteen candidates that are under consideration. The latest news indicates Fabio Capello is in the most serious contention. Others include Pep Guardiola, Harry Redknapp, Roberto Mancini, Marcello Lippi, and Rafael Benitez. The list also includes a few Russian managers including Anatoly Byshovets, Yuri Semin, and Valeri Gazzaev.

Candidates from Abroad

Fabio Capello
Most recently the manager of England after resigning in February. His depth of experience is certainly unquestionable and it seems like he was never given the full chance to manage England after repeated intervention by the FA. He also has a wealth of titles amassed during a lengthy career around the Serie A and La Liga. He is a very ideal candidate given his methods of stamping out complacency and establishing a strong core supplanted by newer and younger talent.

Verdict: Currently the frontrunner in the process, appointment a definite probability.

Harry Redknapp
Former Tottenham manager who transformed the club from a usual mid-table presence to a top four contender in just under four years. One of the more surprising names on the list, he is certainly capable of transforming the Russian squad. With his recent resignation and the summer off season only getting started after Euro 2012, he may get offers in the Premier League.

Verdict: A probable appointment but so far Redknapp hasn’t professed much interest.

Pep Guardiola
The ex-Barca leader may have already ruled himself out after declaring his intention to take a yearlong break from football. But he would be one of the more ideal candidates given his experience with phasing in fresh talent.

Verdict: More of a possibility than a probability and may be eager to go on his sabbatical.

Roberto Mancini
Mancini was rumored to have already signed an agreement with the RFU earlier this week but in a contrary revelation, Manchester City confirmed an extension to his existing contract.

Verdict: No longer in the running.

Marcello Lippi
Lippi is well known for having never coached outside of his home nation until recently taking charge of Guangzhou Evergrande F.C. in the Chinese Super League. He certainly has the credentials and a depth of national team experience after leading Italy to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. But he is known for sticking with too many veteran players as seen in the 2010 debacle when managing Italy for a second time.

Verdict: Unlikely to take it, Lippi seems to be very selective about his employers.

Rafael Benitez
Best known for making Liverpool a top four mainstay during his six year tenure and the dramatic win over AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final. Aside from his Liverpool stint, he guided Valencia to the UEFA Cup in 2004 and had an unimpressive spell with Inter Milan in 2010. With tensions inside the RFU high over a variety of issues, it may not be the best environment for Benitez to work in, given his history of public conflicts and confrontations.

Verdict: He has expressed interest but may turn it down if he gets a Premier League offer.

Marcelo Bielsa
Bielsa was known as an innovator when it comes to coaching and training methods. His credentials got a major addition after guiding Athletic Bilbao to the Europa League final this year following stints with Argentina and Chile. His approach may be bring about needed changes in the Russian national side.

Verdict: A possibility but he recently stated his desire to stay at Athletic Bilbao.

Domestic Candidates

Valery Gazzaev
Outside of Russia, Gazzaev is best known for leading CSKA Moskva to the UEFA Cup in 2005. He also won a number of domestic league and cup titles, establishing CSKA as one of the top clubs in Russia. In terms of national team experience, he previously managed Russia during the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign before being sacked after a run of poor results.

Verdict: His appointment is a long shot given the pool of international managers being considered.

Yuri Semin
Another former manager of the national team, Semin had a successful nineteen year tenure at Lokomotiv Moskva leading the railway men to a semifinal in the old Cup Winners Cup. He had similar success with Dynamo Kiev, leading them to a semifinal at the UEFA Cup in 2009. However his experience with the national team proved disappointing as they narrowly failed to qualify for the play-offs to reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Verdict: Will definitely take it if offered.

Anatoliy Byshovets
A legend in Soviet football, Byshovets is the third former Russia manager being considered. However, his managerial career does not nearly match his playing career. He has a wealth of experience in Russian football but aside from a handful of titles in the eighties and nineties, his only major title was Olympic gold medal in 1988; one of the last titles won by the Soviet Union. He briefly coached the national team during the Euro 2000 qualifying campaign but was terminated after losing all six games he supervised.

Verdict: Highly unlikely and his inclusion as a candidate is strange enough.

Valery Nepomnyashchy
One of few Russian managers who has spent the greater portion of their career outside of Russia. He has held a number of club positions in Asia and briefly coached the Uzbek national team. He is best known for leading Cameroon to the World Cup quarterfinals in 1990 before being narrowly edged out by England.

Verdict: Called the list a joke and may have effectively removed himself from contention.

Andrei Kobelev
Kobelev is one of the surprise names given his shallow depth of overall coaching experience. Spending much of his playing career at Dynamo Moscow and eventually ending up managing the club, his tenure was very inconsistent with the club spending a season either contesting a place in Europe or battling relegation.

Verdict: If he is the only candidate left, he might get the job, but that’s unlikely.

Nikolai Pisarev
His appointment would largely be an internal promotion as current head of the Russia U21 team. His only major past experience includes an assistant role at Krylia Sovetov Samara and head coaching the Russian beach soccer team.

Verdict: The only real possibility of Russian coaches on the list. His current work with the U21 side makes him a strong candidate given his familiarity with the emerging talent.

Yuri Krasnozhan
Currently leading the Russia-2 national team. Like Pisarev, he is an internal candidate from within the RFU and does not have a lot of coaching experience. Aside from a mixed stint with Spartak Nalchik, he only has a few assistant roles since he ended his playing career in the early nineties. He has also been a lightening rod for controversy after being accused of match fixing and being sacked at Anzhi before overseeing a match due to internal conflicts.

Verdict: Probably the weakest of all the candidates with the least chance.

Note: all verdicts in this post are based on personal knowledge and opinion.

Russian fans all over Europe and the world must be scratching their heads as Russia were eliminated after a 1-0 loss to Greece combined with with a 1-0 Czech victory over the co-hosts. Dick Advocaat, who has already resigned, appeared very disappointed in the post match press conference and was angry at any questions that pointed to the reasons for Russia’s failure. This elimination is very disappointing considering Russia had a decent qualification campaign that saw them top a qualification group for the first time since 2001. A few mediocre friendlies may have indicated some weaknesses but a 3-0 win over Italy and 4-1 thrashing of the Czech Republic put the team in better light.

Complacency and Overconfidence?
It might be that the Russian team was a victim of their own success and complacency set in after the opening match with the Czechs. By comparison, Russia played very strongly against Italy and the Czech Republic, almost looking like they were going to win the entire tournament. But when the opponents were co-hosts Poland, the team started aggressively but that slowly progressed to sloppiness. Passing and distribution became inconsistent and the back line began to lose focus. It was not long before the Poles struck and Russia were desperately trying to regain the lead. Against Greece, the situation was even worse as the entire team looked very disorganized. Another concentration lapse saw a misjudged throw-in put them behind. This type of playing is certainly a symptom of complacency.

Wrong Players and Wrong Formation?
Dick Advocaat will face fallout criticism for the players and formation used. But at the end of the day, Advocaat could have done one hundred different things and the result would have been the same. He picked the players he saw fit at the end of the Russian Premier League season and thats what all coaches do. The selection was made and Dick Advocaat can be paraphrased in the post match press conference, the team went out to play and but the needed goal was not scored, so thats football. The score doesn’t always reflect the game and results don’t always reflect the squad. Russia actually played pretty well and dominated possession for large spells in all three games. But all teams win, draw, and lose games, and yesterday’s result just happened to be in a very critical match that did not go their way.

Kerzhakov?
Questions swirling on Aleksandr Kerzhakov have been flying around the media. If Kerzhakov is blamed, then the whole team has to blamed as well. He joined the squad as the second highest scorer in the Russian Premier League. Teams who play against Russia are going to know that and will mark him well. Kerzhakov simply cannot be singled out and blamed. One can ask if he have been replaced with Pavlyuchenko for the matches against Poland and Greece, but that would not have resulted in passage to the quarterfinals, and that’s a whole different story.

Russia will hopefully settle in for a long summer break and a rejuvenated team will take the field against Northern Ireland at the Lokomotiv Stadium on September 7, 2012 to begin their quest to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Lineup/Formation
There will likely be a few changes to tweak the lineup up that played against Poland and the Czech Republic. The most talked about change is Kerzhakov being replaced with Roman Pavlyuchenko or Pavel Porgebnyak. Aleksandr Kokorin has been ruled out due to injury. Advocaat may also make a change at the back or in the defensive midfield to shore up any defensive issues that occurred against Poland.

Formation wise, the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 which was lineup against the Czech Republic and Poland will likely take the field against the Greece. With Arshavin and Dzagoev on the wings, Russia will have the opportunity to exploit the flank weaknesses that Greece exhibited in their first two matches.

Players to Watch
Alan Dzagoev: With two goals already in the tournament, there is no reason for Dzagoev to not make it onto the score sheet.

Roman Shirokov: Given how Greece broke down in the center against the Czech Republic, Roman Shirokov, could be on the score sheet.

The game will be on ESPN2 at 2:30PM EDT in the US