Courtesy: UEFA.com


Russia squad in shape for futsal finals

Monday 12 November 2007

by Pavel Gognidze

Brazilian-born duo Cirilo and Pelé Junior are among Russia's squad for the UEFA European Futsal Championship but one place is still to be filled after Nikolay Pereverzev was injured.

Preparations
Cirilo and Pelé, among five players from UEFA Futsal Cup holders MFK Dinamo Moskva in the 13 named, were granted Russian citizenship earlier this year. MFK Tyumen player Pereverzev will now miss out, with MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg's Konstantin Agapov tipped to take his place. Coach Oleg Ivanov, whose 2005 runners-up begin their Group B campaign in Porto on Saturday and then meet Ukraine and holders Spain, is bidding to lift Russia’s second European title and said: "There is a bit of a problem in that the league started early this year in August. This means the teams did not have time to prepare physically. This is why I asked the players to do cross-country running and gym work in their preparations. All players followed the programmes I prepared for them and I am very happy about that."

Goalkeepers
Pavel Stepanov (MFK Dinamo Moskva), Sergei Zuev (MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg).

Outfield players
Cirilo (MFK Dinamo Moskva), Konstantin Dushkevich (MFK Spartak-Shelkovo), Pavel Chistopolov (MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg), Sergei Sergeev (MFK CSKA Moskva), Konstantin Maevski (MFK Dinamo Moskva), Pelé Junior (MFK Dinamo Moskva), Aleksandr Fukin (MFK Dina Moskva), Damir Khamadiev (MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg), Vladislav Shayakhmetov (MFK VIZ-Sinara Ekaterinburg), Sergei Malyshev (MFK Norilski Nikel), Pavel Kobzar (MFK Dinamo Moskva).




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com