DEN HITS FLOP GEA Chery Red gunning for struggling United star

RUSSIA star Denis Cheryshev has taken aim at Spain flop David De Gea and promised to send his adopted nation crashing out.

Cheryshev, who plays for Villarreal, wants to take advantage of the Manchester United keeper’s poor form in the finals by adding to his three-goal haul in the tournament.

The hitman, 27, moved to Spain as a youngster and once said he felt more Spanish than Russian. But he is now a national hero and is eyeing a last-16 upset in Moscow today.

He said: “Yes, that’s my intention as a striker. Spain have some great players.

They might even be the best team in the world but any team can beat another and I will do my best to help my team.

“All players go through slumps at times – but we need to be professional and focus on what we need to do.

“If I score I will be happy. Nothing will change for me in Spain. Life will go on.”

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov has already exceeded expectations by leading the host nation out of the group – but is now eyeing the second big upset of his career against Spain.

Back in 1990-91 he was in goal for a Spartak Moscow team which knocked mighty Real Madrid out of the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

Cherchesov, whose opposite number Fernando Hierro played against him that day, said: “A that time Spanish teams were favourites but we say in Russia that anyone can be God if he tries to.

“Hierro was a good player and is now a great coach. Nobody believed we could win and now we can prove our worth and repeat that success.

“It’s a life or death match and only one team can go through. It’s like an exam in Russian.

“What you write your professor will check. You can’t change anything.”

PAUL BROWN