Preview RUS-URU: Russia take on 2010 Semifinalists

May 25th, 2012 | by: nick | No Comments »

Russia will be taking on Uruguay later today in a friendly match at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Moscow. This will serve as the first of three warm up matches before commencing the tournament against the Czech Republic on June 8. The other opponents will be Lithuania on May 29 and Italy on June 8 with both matches taking place in Switzerland. Despite home advantage, Russia do not look like the favorites. Uruguay manager Óscar Tabárez has already revealed that he will use a three pronged attack consisting of Edinson Cavani, Luis Suárez, and Diego Forlán. With Vasilli Berezutski and Roman Shishkin ruled out of the tournament, the back line definitely have their work cut out for them.

Russia
Dick Advocaat is likely to use this match in making his final decision on the final player to be cut from the squad. Most sources point to Magomed Ozdoev as the likely victim but with six strikers in the preliminary squad, it is hard to see all of them in the final 23. The formation is another key question for Advocaat, as he narrows down the tactics that will be put to use.

The back line problems are pretty obvious as it leaves four starters and three backups to cover them. And depending on where Yuri Zhirkov plays, it could leave just two. However the with two key defenders out, most interesting thing is Advocaat has stated he will not call up any more players for the squad. He should definitely reexamine his depth charts and call up one more defender. Zhirkov could then play a more versatile role and not be tied to the back line. Potential candidates include Taras Burlak (Lokomotiv), who has had a solid season since the restart in March and could be very useful if Aleksei Berezutski is used to cover either of the flanks. Others include fullbacks Oleg Kuzmin (Rubin) and Georgi Schennikov (CSKA) both of whom regularly covered the flanks for their respective clubs.

Uruguay
Óscar Tabárez’s side head into this match with 2014 CONMEBOL qualifiers against Venezuela and Peru on the horizon. They sit at the top of the table and Tabárez would like to keep it that way. After a 1-1 draw to Romania earlier this year, Uruguay will undoubtably want to walk away from Moscow with confidence.