Dzuba's double, Ozdoev’s beautiful goal and Golovin’s three points for performance: how Russia defeated Scotland

Composition without surprises and serious attitude

The current qualifying stage is taking shape for the Russian team in a unique scenario. It’s even hard to remember when a domestic team could guarantee a ticket to the final stage of a major tournament four matches before the end of the qualification.

This could happen if Russia won over Scotland and a draw in the match of Kazakhstan and Cyprus. Unfortunately, in Nur-Sultan the teams did not split the world, although seven more minutes before the end of normal time on the scoreboard, two units of Stanislav Cherchesov's wards were on fire. But in the 84th minute, the Cypriots pulled out a strong-willed victory and scored an important three points. This meant that the Russian team lost the opportunity to guarantee themselves getting into the final stage of Euro 2020 on Thursday.

However, the victory over Scotland still removed almost all the questions, because after that, the domestic team needed to play a draw with Cyprus in the next match or simply score two points in the remaining meetings.

At the same time, the Scots did not believe much in their team. On the eve of the match, British journalists who arrived in Moscow mercilessly criticized team head coach Steve Clark. As a result, Artyom Dziuba stood up for the specialist, who recalled that before the World Cup no one believed in the Russian team at home either.

The result of the first match between the teams, in which Cherchesov’s wards on the road won a fairly confident victory, although they missed the first, did not inspire confidence in the guests. However, Stanislav Salamovich himself warned his own wards from underestimating the opponent.

“Firstly, there are still four games ahead in our group. It is clear that there is a standings that we made for ourselves. As for the Scottish national team, we are preparing for a good, responsible match, ”the specialist said at a press conference.

In turn, the fans waited with interest from Cherchesov for the announcement of the starting lineup, but the coach expectedly did without experiments. Unless for the first time Dmitry Barinov, who composed a duet in the base zone with Magomed Ozdoev, was the basis of the national team.

The starting lineup of the Russian team for the match @UEFAEURO vs Scotland! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WNLI8Nxcso

One shot on target and a minimum of points

The match began at a fairly leisurely pace. The Russian team did not set itself the goal of crushing the opponent from the first minutes, and the Scots even tried to check the defensive ranks of the hosts for strength with long casts.

But gradually, the advantage of the wards of Cherchesov became more and more tangible. The team played the ball for a long time in the center of the field, and the two-core Ozdoev, who traditionally not only worked perfectly in destruction, but also showed himself as a deep playmaker, was responsible for the beginning of the attacks. On the right flank, as always, was Mario Fernandez.

Experienced Zhirkov on the opposite edge was a little less active, but Yuri should be noted if only because he played the 90th match in the national team and, according to this indicator, entered the top 5 in the history of the national team, catching up with Alexander Kerzhakov. The only Zenit defender in the national team shirt was played only by Vasily Berezutsky, Igor Akinfeev, Viktor Onopko and Sergey Ignashevich.

Returning to the game, after throwing Fernandez into the penalty area from the right flank, the Russians struck their first blow. Fedor Kudryashov took the ball near the goalkeeper and shot higher. But this was far from the last approach of the national team. Gradually, Russia completely took the shell under its control, and the Scots could not even really launch a counterattack. It is not surprising that the guests in the first half struck just one shot on goal Marinato Guillerme, and not a single - on target. The goalkeeper frankly missed the “last frontier”. At the same time, the home team owned the ball almost 70% of the time.

True, there were few really dangerous moments at the opponent’s goal. We can only recall that the shot of Alexander Golovin at the very end of the first half from the penalty area, which the goalkeeper easily managed. Actually, this shot on target was the only one for the Russian team in the first half of the meeting.

You can also recall a slightly inaccurate blow of the same Golovin from the penalty area and a blocked shot by Alexei Ionov. The rest of the Scots defended quite confidently, although sometimes they cope with Russian attacks only at the last moment. The guests also watched the textured Dziuba, but he still won most of the martial arts.

Four goals for the half and Komlichenko's debut

However, immediately after the break, the Russian team quickly pointed to the opponent in his place, although the Scots again began the time quite actively. But the hosts brought success to a standard position. At the 57th minute after a corner kick, Dziuba literally pushed through the defender and sent the ball to the target with his head.

Domestic football players did not stop there and immediately scored more. And again, assisted by Golovin. Magomed Ozdoev, taking advantage of the discount of the midfielder of Monaco, dealt a powerful blow from outside the penalty area. Absolutely well-deserved goal for opornik Zenit.

Immediately Dziuba nearly scored a double with an unexpected blow from a practically zero angle. The ball hit the crossbar. But Artyom did not miss his opportunity to distinguish himself once again, incredibly charged for success. The third goal of the Russian team also could not do without the participation of Golovin. Alexander found Fernandez in the penalty box with a magnificent pass, and he threw the ball to Dziuba. In turn, the forward pushed the defender and sent the ball to the goal. This goal was 23rd for Artyom for the national team and already the eighth in the selection. In the tournament scorers of the tournament, he is second only to the Israeli Eran Zahavi.

After this, the match could be completed, although the Russians went ahead to the end and scored more. Golovin didn’t leave the field without an exact blow, who also chalked up two assists. And in the end, Nikolai Komlichenko made his debut for the national team, replacing Dziuba, who left the Luzhniki field to a standing ovation.

The Russian team gave the country a wonderful evening and won a sixth victory in the qualifying tournament. Thus, the team almost guaranteed a ticket to Euro 2020. In the next guest meeting against Cyprus, which will be held on October 13, Stanislav Cherchesov's wards can secure their qualification for the continental championship.