Euro 2008 - Day 12: Hiddink Does It Again, Leads Russia to Second Round
June 19th 2008 00:05
How does this guy do it? After South Korea in 2002 and Australia in 2006, the Dutch coach will be leading Russia to the Euro's quarterfinals for the first time since the Soviet Union's collapse. His decision to keep Andrei Arshavin in his roster despite the player's suspension for Russia's first two games has paid off with the striker scoring Russia's second goal and improving the team's overall performance.
Speed and vigor were keys in this game that neither team wanted to lose. While both teams deployed a 4-4-2 formation (a traditional 4-4-2 for Sweden while Russia's was more of a 4-1-3-2), Russia had more mobility along the wings with both defenders Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Anyukov overlapping on the attack and causing all sorts of trouble to the Swedish defense. Faced with as much as 6 players attacking their goal, the Swedes were often pinned in their own box for long stretches of time, unable to get the ball out of their zone. Consequently, Russia was the first team to score at the 24th minute when Anyukov burst into the box and crossed the ball to Roman Pavlyuchenko who finished the play by putting the ball in the back of the net. Sweden almost equalized three minutes later, but Larsson's header hit the crossbar. It would be their best opportunity of the first half as they were completely dominated by Russia who also hit the crossbar at the 36th minute.
The Russians scored again five minutes into the second half from a nice counterattack after a Swedish free-kick. Sweden inherited a foul in their own territory and used the opportunity to send a long ball to Henrik Larsson. The cross was intercepted by Zhirkov who immediately passed the ball to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov before starting his run. The midfielder then passed the ball down the flank to Zhirkov while Arshavin ran down to the Swedish penalty spot. The rest was textbook play as Zhirkov sent a low cross to Arshavin who poked the ball past Isaksson for Russia's second goal.
Sweden tried to come back into the game with the entrance of both Kim Kallstrom and Marcus Allback but it only left their defense exposed as the Russians kept attacking Sweden with no respite. Their speed slowly worn down the Swedish midfielders who had trouble moving up and down the field all the time – by the 75th minute, the only really active player left in the Swedish side was captain Fedrik Ljungberg who kept running from one end to the other, leading his team by example. Ljungberg's efforts was all for nothing however, as Sweden found itself disconnected with the forwards unwilling to come back while the defense didn't have enough strength to move up the field only to go back sprinting with the threat of another Russian attack.
So, Russia goes through to the quarterfinals and will face Guus Hiddink's country, the Netherlands. Two attacking teams which have displayed very attractive football – it should be great.
My man of the match: Andrei Arshavin. His impact on the team was very noticeable as created several plays seemingly out of nothing.
Honorable mentions:
- Yuri Zhirkov. The left-back was a workhorse, running up and down the field like a mad man. He was the origin of his team's second goal.
- Roman Pavlyuchenko. This guy is quickly becoming one of my favorites. He has a great presence in the box and could've scored a hat trick if it weren't for Isaksson and his crossbar.
- Fedrik Ljungberg. The only Swedish player who had a great game. He seemed to be the only one who was able to keep up with the Russians.
Speed and vigor were keys in this game that neither team wanted to lose. While both teams deployed a 4-4-2 formation (a traditional 4-4-2 for Sweden while Russia's was more of a 4-1-3-2), Russia had more mobility along the wings with both defenders Yuri Zhirkov and Aleksandr Anyukov overlapping on the attack and causing all sorts of trouble to the Swedish defense. Faced with as much as 6 players attacking their goal, the Swedes were often pinned in their own box for long stretches of time, unable to get the ball out of their zone. Consequently, Russia was the first team to score at the 24th minute when Anyukov burst into the box and crossed the ball to Roman Pavlyuchenko who finished the play by putting the ball in the back of the net. Sweden almost equalized three minutes later, but Larsson's header hit the crossbar. It would be their best opportunity of the first half as they were completely dominated by Russia who also hit the crossbar at the 36th minute.
The Russians scored again five minutes into the second half from a nice counterattack after a Swedish free-kick. Sweden inherited a foul in their own territory and used the opportunity to send a long ball to Henrik Larsson. The cross was intercepted by Zhirkov who immediately passed the ball to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov before starting his run. The midfielder then passed the ball down the flank to Zhirkov while Arshavin ran down to the Swedish penalty spot. The rest was textbook play as Zhirkov sent a low cross to Arshavin who poked the ball past Isaksson for Russia's second goal.
Sweden tried to come back into the game with the entrance of both Kim Kallstrom and Marcus Allback but it only left their defense exposed as the Russians kept attacking Sweden with no respite. Their speed slowly worn down the Swedish midfielders who had trouble moving up and down the field all the time – by the 75th minute, the only really active player left in the Swedish side was captain Fedrik Ljungberg who kept running from one end to the other, leading his team by example. Ljungberg's efforts was all for nothing however, as Sweden found itself disconnected with the forwards unwilling to come back while the defense didn't have enough strength to move up the field only to go back sprinting with the threat of another Russian attack.
So, Russia goes through to the quarterfinals and will face Guus Hiddink's country, the Netherlands. Two attacking teams which have displayed very attractive football – it should be great.
My man of the match: Andrei Arshavin. His impact on the team was very noticeable as created several plays seemingly out of nothing.
Honorable mentions:
- Yuri Zhirkov. The left-back was a workhorse, running up and down the field like a mad man. He was the origin of his team's second goal.
- Roman Pavlyuchenko. This guy is quickly becoming one of my favorites. He has a great presence in the box and could've scored a hat trick if it weren't for Isaksson and his crossbar.
- Fedrik Ljungberg. The only Swedish player who had a great game. He seemed to be the only one who was able to keep up with the Russians.
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