Russia out to attack Slovenia in World Cup playoff
Russia coach Guus Hiddink will put his team on the attack against Slovenia on Saturday in the first leg of its World Cup playoffs.
Russia, surprise semifinalist at last years European Championship, won seven of its 10 qualifying matches but finished behind Germany in Group 4.
Defense was the teams strongest department in qualifying - the Russians conceded only six goals - but Hiddink is putting the onus on his strikers ahead of the first match of the two-leg playoff at Luzhniki Stadium.
We will go for an attacking style of play, the Dutchman said. (But) we are not in a position to expect an easy outing.
If you take a look at Slovenias results in its group qualifiers and in friendly matches, you will see that its a very serious, well-organized and tactically skilled team, Hiddink added. You can see it by the number of goals they have conceded, which were few.
Slovenia won its last four qualifiers, scoring 13 goals and conceding none.
There is not the slightest hint in the Russia team of underestimating Slovenia, Hiddink said. We all understand that these will not be easy matches - the stakes are too high.
We will try to maintain our sometimes risky style to play and create chances - which we always do, but it will also be important in these two games not concede damage.
Hiddink said he expects no major changes in the opponents lineup and tactics for the match.
Slovenia boasts few star names in its team but has at times impressed since losing all three games in its World Cup debut in 2002.
It qualified for the playoffs from a pool that saw neighbor Slovakia progress automatically.
Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek claimed his team - which lies 37 positions below 12th-ranked Russia - is the underdog.
Do you know whos a favorite for this playoff? Kek said. I do. Its Russia. But no one can deprive us of our desire to win it. We have our own goal in this match - to get an active result for the return leg.
Slovenia striker Zlatko Dedic added: We are going to play our game and we are not afraid. Yes, Russia is the favorite but we hope that in 90 minutes we will have our chances to score.
We fully realize the strength and quality of the Russian team, Kek said. It will be a tough game for us. But I hope that our defense will prove its depth.
Slovenia defender Matej Mavric was doubtful for the game because of pain in his back, while Russia left back Yury Zhirkov is reportedly struggling with knee pains after training on Luzhnikis artificial field.
With striker Roman Pavlyuchenko rarely starting at Tottenham, Hiddink has recalled Lokomotiv Moscows Dmitry Sychev for Saturdays match.
Sychev, who was last called up in the spring, is in good form after scoring the winner in Lokomotivs 1-0 win over Amkar on Sunday in the Russian league.
Moscow officials will place face masks on each of the stadiums 80,000 seats for the game, fearing the further spread of swine flu.
Russia failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but has improved since then under Hiddink.
Hiddink has the Russians playing with both grit and style. Slick team movement has given Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin plenty of options for his accurate passes and layoffs, while defending in numbers has made scoring against Russia a difficult task.
The return leg is in Maribor, Slovenia, on Wednesday.
