Russia squad
Goalkeepers
Igor AKINFEEV
08.04.86
CSKA Moscow
18 caps (0 goals)
Now first-choice keeper, having been third-choice at Euro 2004. Very confident, handles high balls well, good with the ball at his feet and has leadership qualities. Appointed CSKA captain this year.
Vladimir GABULOV
19.10.83
Amkar Perm
5 caps (0 goals)
Third-choice but has proved effective when called upon – played in Russia’s vital qualifying win over England in October. Joined Amkar this winter from relegated Kuban Krasnodar.
Viacheslav MALAFEEV
04.03.79
Zenit St Petersburg
15 caps (0 goals)
Reserve keeper, brilliant on his line. Played one and a half games at Euro 2004 and saved a penalty as a sub for the sent-off Gabulov in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Macedonia last September.
Defenders
Alexander ANYUKOV
28.09.82
Zenit St Petersburg
30 caps (1 goal)
Pacy right-back with a powerful long-range shot. Links well with right-winger Bystrov. Played in one game at Euro 2004 – the group stage win against eventual champions Greece.
Alexei BEREZUTSKY
20.06.82
CSKA Moscow
31 caps (0 goals)
Plays on the left or centrally and good in the air. But he and identical twin Vasili have been dubbed “wooden soldiers” because of lack of agility and technical ability.
Vasili BEREZUTSKY
20.06.82
CSKA Moscow
26 caps (1 goal)
Central defender but plays on the right for CSKA when they use a back three. Hiddink jokes he gave Alexei the armband v Romania in March (with Arshavin not used) just to differentiate the twins.
Sergei IGNASHEVICH
14.07.79
CSKA Moscow
35 caps (3 goals)
Central defender, good in the air, a tough tackler and has a powerful shot. But has lost reliability recently. A reserved character – dubbed Sergei the Silent because he refuses to give interviews.
Denis KOLODIN
11.01.82
Dynamo Moscow
10 caps (0 goals)
Central defender with a powerful shot and also a set-piece expert, though he missed a penalty in the last qualifier. Started out as a centre-forward, then in midfield, where he can still be used.
Renat YANBAYEV
07.04.84
Lokomotiv Moscow
0 caps
Quickly secured the left-back slot at Lokomotiv on joining from Kuban Krasnodar last summer. Had been an attacking midfielder at Khimki (then in second division). Fast, confident, good going forward.
Midfielders
Andrei ARSHAVIN
29.05.81
Zenit St Petersburg
33 caps (10 goals)
Russia’s best playmaker and captain but is suspended for the first two Euro 2008 games after being sent off in the last qualifier and so may not be included at all. Inventive dribbler, good finisher.
Diniyar BILYALETDINOV
27.02.85
Lokomotiv Moscow
20 caps (1 goal)
Attacking midfielder best in the centre but sometimes made to cover the left flank, which he does not like. Appointed Lokomotiv captain last year at just 22 and also the club’s reserve team coach.
Vladimir BYSTROV
31.01.84
Spartak Moscow
17 caps (2 goals)
Skilful, pacy right-winger whose family name fittingly means fast in Russian. Plays on the right but often gets into the box. Starred for hometown Zenit St Petersburg, now at rivals Spartak.
Sergei SEMAK
27.02.76
Salzburg
44 caps (4 goals)
Surprise cal-up, the 32-year-old made his Russia debut in a World Cup play-off against Italy in Nov. 1997. Made Russia squads at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 but did not play in either tournament.
Igor SEMSHOV
06.04.78
Dynamo Moscow
24 caps (0 goals)
Has usually played as a sweeper under Hiddink but was recently moved forward to playmaker, his position at club level. Has plenty of stamina, a good shot and is hard-working.
Roman SHIROKOV
06.07.81
Zenit St Petersburg
1 cap (0 goals)
Injuries prompted Zenit boss Dick Advocaat to try the playmaker in central defence, and Shirokov performed well, cleverly starting attacks from deep. Used as a sweeper on Russia debut in March.
Joachim STANDFEST
30.05.80
Austria Wien
29 caps (2 goals)
Aptly named since “standfest” is the German for reliable – he is consistent and misses few games. Quick and technically skilled but a bit lightweight.
Yuri ZHIRKOV
20.08.83
CSKA Moscow
17 caps (0 goals)
A European-class left-winger with great pace, passing ability, vision and a powerful shot. Also good at left-back, where Hiddink is short of options. Certain to start if fit.
Konstantin ZYRYANOV
05.10.77
Zenit St Petersburg
9 caps (0 goals)
Late-developing versatile, creative and hard-working midfielder. Named Russia’s player of the year for 2007 after winning the League with new club Zenit. Also won his first cap last year.
Forwards
Roman ADAMOV
21.06.82
FC Moscow
1 cap (0 goals)
Tall, powerful striker who was joint top league scorer (with Pavlyuchenko) last term with 14 goals but also missed a lot of chances. Injured on his Russia debut against Romania in March.
Roman PAVLYUCHENKO
15.12.81
Spartak Moscow
14 caps (4 goals)
Tall striker who won hero status after scoring both goals in the 2-1 qualifying win over England. But Hiddink dubbed him “a sleeping giant” for his lack of mobility and over-dependence on the midfield.
Pavel POGREBNYAK
08.11.83
Zenit St Petersburg
7 caps (2 goals)
Strong, muscular forward starring for Zenit. Product of the Spartak Moscow youth academy but criticised the club’s policies and left for Tom Tomsk. Nicknamed Pogreb (cellar in Russian).
Dmitri SYCHEV
26.10.83
Lokomotiv Moscow
38 caps (14 goals)
Agile, quick and probably the most gifted striker of the new generation in Russia. Also, one of the few squad members with experience abroad – from an unproductive spell at Marseille.
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