World Sport News

On Saturday the Russian national football team under the guidance of Guus Hiddink in the fifth round of qualifying for the European Championship 2008 in Group E with a 2-0 defeated the visiting team meeting in Estonia. Thus, in the five meetings held qualifier Russian team scored three wins and two draws. It should be noted that under the guidance of Guus Hiddink's Russians have not yet suffered a single defeat in official matches. Now, after five rounds of the Russian team took second place in Group E, behind the leadership of Croatia by two points.

The same day, England have once again made a misfire, having played a draw with Israel. Fans of British teams have already resent – accustomed to the highest goals, they were angered by the words of the national team coach Steve McClaren that he is, supposedly, will be satisfied with a draw. It is worth noting that before the meeting in Israel, England had a huge staffing problems. Has long been known that this match will not be able to take part Garr Neville, Mike Richards, Wayne Bridge and Darren Bent, but it soon became clear that defender Jonathan Woodgate, on Thursday received a knee injury, Joe Cole and Peter Crouch, as well as Ashley Cole also disqualified will not go on the field during a match against Israel. Bloodless team Steve McClaren played a draw and zero now the Russians are ahead of the British at three points.

The English team

now the situation is not the best. Around the team a lot of rumors swirling, but the head coach of discontent can be felt in everything. Have been arguing about the possible resignation of Steve McClaren after the regular misfiring all the gossip only rack up even more momentum. Meanwhile, Russia increased its lead to three points and Guus Hiddink with clients can be a little breath. In fact, after starting two draws in their home walls with teams of Croatia and Israel, few people believed in a successful kapmaniyu Russia towards the European Championships of 2008, which will be held in Switzerland. And after two draws in their native Russian team won the walls three wins in a row and is confident in third place in the group.

But if the national team of Croatia miracle did not save the home match with a team of Macedonia, the Russians would be in the leading group with themselves Croats. But the team Slaven Bilic has gained strong-willed victory, losing to Macedonia at halftime. And when you consider that Macedonia has played without two of their leaders in the face of Igor Mitreski and Robert Petrov, in a home match with Croatia, Macedonians can count on at least one point. On the Israel-England match we have a few words said, but those words were heard only in the context of the prospects tournament founders of football. But throughout the match advantage was owned by Israelis, who were much closer to victory than their opponents. In addition, the Israeli team at the moment is in step with Britain – both teams have to account for soem eight points and both have suffered their only defeat to Croatia. Only here the English lost to the group leader in the away match, and the Israelis at home.

Russian national team has twice played with the team in Estonia and in both cases, achieved a victory. Yes, and in St. Petersburg and Tallinn Russians did result only in the second half, but by and large wards Guus Hiddink looked confident. Visiting match with Macedonia, and does so far is the quality of the best games played by the Russian team. But meanwhile Macedonia won the exit meeting, Estonia has achieved a draw against England in England, and the Croats have barely two points are not selected again in Croatia. The English in the two matches with Macedonia have taken only four points, defeated Andorra, Croatia lost and now dispersed world in Israel. The Croats also look at the moment the clear favorite of the group. After starting on the draw Russians wards Slaven Bilic overcome one by one to his field: Andorra, England and Macedonia, but also an exit meeting to prevail over Israel.

Israel now goes to the spectacle scheduled for England and this despite the fact that the Israelis have played with both Russia and Croatia, and England. The British also remains to be two meetings with the team of Russia, which may become decisive in the struggle for a way out of the group. And in this situation, the Russians do not be afraid to travel to England. The fact is that none of the five group matches in the tournament matches with the Russian team was not scored more than two goals. Guus Hiddink has put the team very rational game in which there is no clearly marked leaders confirmed that a meeting with Estonia, before which the Russian team had a number of serious personnel problems. In this context, Russia can make a special rate to match with the founders of football in England, where the hosts will inevitably be forced to attack. In five matches, Russia conceded only one goal – in the end the match with Israel, and the moments at the gates of Akinfeev in every game can be counted on the fingers. And if the Russians will play his football in away matches against England and Croatia, all of Hiddink's team will be fine. But will another meeting with England, Croatia, England and Israel, Croatia and Israel. In which the contestants are bound to lose points. So all in our hands, you just take a chance!

Alexander Ivanov, Down-the-line.com

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