Russia test mettle against Brazil and France
MOSCOW: Hosts Russia will test their World Cup mettle in two tough friendlies against Brazil and France that just might lift team spirits after a rash of bad injuries.
Coach Stanislav Cherchesov lined up the trophy favourites to brace his men for the pressure of living up to Vladimir Putin’s expectations on home ground.
The absence following foot surgery of Brazil star Neymar should take little glitter off matchups that still feature the likes of teammate Philippe Coutinho and France’s Paul Pogba.
But Russia are a team of walking wounded who have already lost their starting forward and a pair of key defenders for the June 14 to July 15 World Cup finals.
“The way things are going, we are losing a key player to injury every month,” Cherchesov said ahead of today’s clash in Moscow with Brazil and Tuesday’s encounter in Saint Petersburg with France.
Cherchesov took over Russia’s reins after they crashed out of Euro 2016 without winning and drew scorn from the media in Moscow.
Russia were cautious in a 1-0 loss to Argentina but showed resolve in coming from behind twice to draw 3-3 with Spain in November.
Those results left fans encouraged about their prospects in a group that includes Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The hosts and Uruguay are favourites to make the last 16.
But the air was sucked out of the team when Zenit Saint Petersburg striker Alexander Kokorin ruptured his right knee ligaments in a Europa League match last week.
The very same injuries also sidelined Spartak full-back Georgy Dzhikiya and CSKA Moscow wing-back Viktor Vasin — the heart of Russia’s defence.
Brazilian-born right-back Mario Fernandes will also be missing for an unknown duration because of a thigh strain.
Yet Russia’s biggest problem has been quality finishing and Kokorin’s shattered knee may be particularly costly for the coach.
Cherchesov’s options without Kokorin are limited and there is little time to try out formations other than his preferred three men up front.
Brazil and France were meant to be Russia’s big test before Cherchesov fine-tunes his lineup against Austria and Turkey around two weeks before the World Cup kicks off.
Now Russia will now play them with just two listed forwards and a makeshift back four.
Yet not all is doom and gloom for the hosts.
Cherchesov’s squad have a reputation for raising their game according to the competition and they enter the final stretch with seemingly little to lose.
They will further be bolstered by new stadiums packed to the rafters with fans hungry for glory.