Do Russia need a footballing revolution for progress’ sake?
Published:Russia, one of the great superpowers in the world is lacking in one particular area. Its football team is at best mediocre, at worst, downright disastrous. If this summer at the World Cup was anything to go on, the latter is at this moment likelier.
A clutch of youngsters can be the future of the side, however Italian boss and disciplinarian Fabio Capello insists on rigidity and inflexibility. Next up is an away trip to Sweden, a match they are 9/5 to win with Coral and, although they dismantled Liechtenstein 4-0 in their first Group G game, it is a result that is largely academic in the grand scheme of things.
Capello’s apparent reluctance to blood youngsters could hamstring the team further, especially as main man Aleksandr Kerzhakov will be 33 when Euro 2016 begins, and an over-reliance on him could be detrimental to their chances, as proven in Brazil.
Coral preview three youngsters who are capable of making the step up into the senior national team, and influencing the direction of Russia as a footballing nation.
Arseniy Logashov
The 23-year-old right back has an abundance of potential, and can certainly nail down a place permanently in the first team. Currently plying his trade for Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia, his high energy approach and eye for a cross can shape the way the national side play.
Alan Dzagoev
Constantly overlooked by Capello for some reason, Dzagoev should be the man that the team is built around for years to come. Having been mainly a bit-part player at the World Cup, he needs to force his way into the Italian’s thinking, and maybe a move to a top European club should be a reason for doing so.
Aleksandr Kokorin
At 23, the striker should be the man to take over from Kerzhakov. He has hit five goals in nine appearances for Dinamo Moscow this season already, and Capello should be looking to start this man consistently all the way up to the Euro 2016 finals.
