Saint Petersburg (AFP)

Carried by its public, Russia reacted against Finland (1-0), Wednesday in Saint Petersburg, to keep its chances of qualifying for the 8th finals of the Euro, after the second day of group B.

Dominated by Belgium on Saturday (3-0), criticized by the press since, the "Sbornaïa" came close to being knocked out in the 3rd minute, after Joel Pohjangalo opened the scoring.

But a minute of Finnish celebration later, Video Assisted Refereeing (VAR) signaled the Union Berlin striker's minimal offside.

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Within a few millimeters, Russia foresaw the elimination.

Monegasque team-mates Aleksandr Golovin had a second chance, and this time they held on, encouraged by the loud support of their supporters.

Alekseï Miranchuk's goal (45th + 4) rewarded the domination of an invigorated team which was not far from scoring a second in the second half.

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A larger score would have allowed him to tackle a possible tie in the standings with a better goal difference.

But coach Stanislav Cherchesov can be satisfied with the essentials: with a success next Monday against Denmark in Copenhagen, his team will play the round of 16.

Victorious over the Danes (1-0) on the first day, Finland did not lose everything.

For their first participation in a Euro, the "Grand-dukes owls" can continue to dream of a qualification, but this will mean a feat against Belgium, or a series of favorable results.

Not the easiest path ... Enough to leave some regrets for the men of Markku Kanerva, who were dangerous in the first period (14th, 20th, 28th), then by Teemu Pukki (53rd) after returning from the locker room.

The meeting, packed, could have tipped over to the Finns, but it was Russia that believed it the strongest.

- Change of guardian -

Cherchesov obtained the effects he wanted by applying his shock method: a rare decision, he changed the starting goalkeeper, leaving Anton Shunin on the bench, to launch the young Matvey Safonov (22), who only had one end of preparation match until then.

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However, Pohjangalo's goal canceled for offside created an air of déjà vu in the Krestovski stadium, as the action started from a defensive stimulus error, already crumbly against Belgium.

The same feeling returned a few minutes later (27th), with the exit on injury of the back Mario Fernandes, injured in the back.

Since the start of preparation, the Russian workforce has deplored the injury of several executives.

Despite everything, Monegasque Aleksandr Golovin and his teammates tried to set the pace, varying the options around the tall Artem Dzyuba (1.87 m), omnipresent in the air.

Magomed Ozdoev (10th) and Vyacheslav Karavayev (37th) were not far from realizing their good intentions.

Miranchuk finally found the flaw, with a superb curling strike from the left in added time of the first period (45 + 4).

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The Atalanta Bergamo player, named man of the match, is another strong choice for Cherchesov, who left him on the bench in the first game.

Returning from the locker room, Golovin (52nd) and Daler Kuzyaev (72nd) had the best opportunities, but the Monegasque did not frame his shot, while the second found goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.

The Sbornaïa would have hoped for better, but with this victory, there it is still in the race.

© 2021 AFP