Next up in our analysis of Group H is Russia. Fabio Capelloโs side gets their campaign underway on Tuesday June 17 at 11pm before squaring up to group favourites Belgium five days later at 5pm and then ending their trio of matches with a showdown against outsiders Algeria on Thursday June 26 at 9pm:
Road to Qualification
The Russians topped a six-team group that also included Portugal, Israel, Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. Capelloโs side won seven and drew two of their 10 matches, scoring 20 times and conceding on just five occasions โ while they registered a total of five clean sheets, itโs worth noting that, after delivering shut-outs in each of their first four, Russia managed to keep out their opponents just once in the final six group games.
Most Starts Igor Akinfeev, Dmitri Kombarov, Roman Shirokov, Alexander Kerzhakov (10), Vasili Berezutski, Sergei Ignashevich, Viktor Faizulin (9), Igor Denisov (8), Alexander Kokorin (7)
Most Goals Alexander Kerzhakov (5), Alexander Kokorin (4), Roman Shirokov, Viktor Faizulin (3)
Most Assists Alexander Samedov, Dmitri Kombarov, Roman Shirokov (3), Alexander Kerzhakov (2)
The Key Targets
Russia have played six friendlies since clinching their qualification to Brazil 2014. One-all draws with Serbia and Norway sandwiched a run of three successive wins against South Korea, Armenia and Slovakia before Fridayโs 2-0 win over Morocco.
Tactically, Capelloโs side is set up in a 4-3-3/ 4-1-4-1 formation, with quick counter-attacks and high pressing โ particularly from the energetic central midfield three โ key to their style of play. In goal, Igor Akinfeev (5.5 in FantasyiTeam) is unquestionably nailed-on, as are first-choice centre-backs Vasili Berezutski and Sergei Ignashevich, (5.5 and 5.6) though at 34 years-old the latter, in particular, could struggle in the heat and humidity. For those eyeing up the Russian defence, though, Dmitri Kombarov served up a trio of assists over the qualifiers and with a keen eye for goal, he scored twice for Spartak Moscow in the 2013/14 season โ heโs the cheapest of the certain starters. On the opposite flank, Anzhiโs Andrei Eshchenko seems likely to get the nod after Alexander Anyukov was left out of the final squad.
In the centre of the park, Igor Denisov and Denis Glushakov will battle it out for the deep-lying option in front of the back-four. Both Viktor Faizulin and Roman Shirokov found the net on three occasions during qualifying, though the latter has now been ruled out of the tournament with knee ligament damage โ it remains to be seen whether this will allow Alan Dzagoev a chance in the starting line-up, though Faizulin, at 5.5 in FantasyiTeam, could offer an alternative for those eyeing up Capelloโs midfield.
Set-piece expert Alexander Samedov is poised to take the right flank role after nailing down the spot towards the end of the qualifying period. The Lokomotiv Moscow wide man started each of the last three and served up two goals and three assists during the qualifiers โ all the more impressive given that he only started four times. Domestically, he chipped in with seven goals and nine assists from 30 appearances last time around and could be a real under the radar option at just 5.4 in in FantasyiTeam.
Priced at just 7.3 in in FantasyiTeam, Alexander Kokorin also looks a certain starter in the front three. The only issue is whether Capello fields him on the left or through the middle โ some expect him to be handed the central role, though, after he racked up 10 goals and nine assists in just 22 matches for Dynamo Moscow last time around.
The Long Shots
With Samedov and Kokorin seemingly nailed-on under Capello, it leaves one slot up for grabs in the front three. Certainly, if Capello chooses to field the latter on the left, Alexander Kerzhakov looks the obvious choice to lead the line instead โ he fell down the pecking order for Zenit last time around, though, and with Kokorin in such prolific form, thereโd be no real surprise to see him utilised as a sub in the latter parts of matches. At 8.4 in FantasyiTeam, though, heโs the most expensive option amongst Capelloโs final squad.
Further Analysis
Group A – Brazil,Cameroon, Croatia, Mexico
Group B – Australia, Chile, Holland, Spain
Group C – Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D โ Costa Rica, England, Italy, Uruguay
Group E โ Ecuador, France, Honduras, Switzerland
Group F โArgentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria,
Group G – Germany, Ghana, Portugal, USA
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Fantasy World Cup Early Options by Bowstring the Trout, The World Cup – The Players by the Sarjeant, World Cup Qualifiers – Goals Scored and Conceded by Blue Lion.
