- At first glance, the matches of the national teams are returning in a not very successful period. In Europe, the Champions League has just ended, and the new season is already in full swing in the RPL. Shouldn't UEFA have put off holding the League of Nations?
- In my opinion, in connection with what is happening in world football, it would be more correct to cancel everything.
The schedule is crazy.
The same Kevin De Bruyne said that after a while the number of injuries would go off scale, and Leonid Slutsky did reasonably oppose the resumption of the season in the RPL.
We see that in Russia the problems with injuries against the background of fatigue have just begun and there are no prerequisites for this to end soon.
At the same time, the European championships are already resuming, and it will be quite fun.
Before Euro 2020, coaches need to understand who they can count on.
But I think that under the current conditions it would be possible to do without national team matches.
- What are the goals of UEFA, organizing the tournament in the fall?
- At the very least, it is important to show that everything is still functioning.
That UEFA is alive, life goes on, and the national teams are sacred.
- Don't you think that UEFA runs the risk of incurring problems, because some players may become infected during international meetings and not be able to play for clubs?
- There is definitely a risk.
In any case, the games of the national teams are flights to other countries.
But they do their best to keep their players safe.
They create special "bubbles" to isolate them from exposure to the outside world.
In any case, it is necessary to return to normal life.
The Germans were the first to take this step when they resumed the Bundesliga, then we, letting the fans into the stands.
We need to move on.
- Over the past week, due to injuries, the Russian national team has lost three leading players - Alexander Golovin, Alexei Miranchuk and Dmitry Barinov. In your opinion, is this a consequence of fatigue or is it something else?
- The reasons are different.
As for fatigue, as the main factor in injury, it will still be.
Especially when the European cups start.
The peak will be in late autumn.
But this is "included in the ticket price."
- In this regard, should we expect a rotation of the roster from Stanislav Cherchesov in the matches with Serbia and Hungary?
- It's unavoidable.
I think Serbs and Hungarians will act in a similar vein.
The head coach is well aware that now is a rather dangerous period.
Enough players have been summoned to the location of the national team.
I assume that each of them will get a chance to enter the field.
In this regard, Cherchesov will not become an enemy of the clubs.
- What goals will Cherchesov pursue in the next Nations League matches?
- In my opinion, the contours of the national team's game have long been defined.
Also, the players who make up its backbone have long been known.
Now there is an opportunity to meet new players and look at promising candidates.
At the same time, I think that everything is already clear with the squad for the European Championship itself.
- If we are talking about the future, is it not logical to call, for example, not experienced goalkeepers in the person of Anton Shunin and Soslan Dzhanaev, but Alexander Maksimenko and Matvey Safonov?
- If we do not take into account Igor Akinfeev, Alexander Maksimenko is the strongest goalkeeper in Russia at the moment.
Matvey Safonov can also be considered in this capacity.
- How then to explain the decision of Cherchesov?
- On the one hand, Stanislav Salamovich is understandable.
The youth team needs top players, because we haven't won something serious at this level for a long time.
But why are they both there - the question.
Like the faith in Marinato Guilherme.
I would like to hope that on the eve of the most important matches of the national team, there will be the strongest goalkeepers at this particular moment.
- Do you personally see where Guilherme is better than Maksimenko or Safonov?
- Not.
- Apart from the goalkeepers of Spartak and Krasnodar, a number of talented young footballers did not make it to the first team. This situation suggests that for the RFU the selection for the Youth Euro is more important than the League of Nations games?
- I think this is logical and correct.
There is a good chance to beat Bulgaria with Poland and reach the Euro.
To some extent, the League of Nations is a friendly tournament, so the European Youth Championship is much more important.
The strength of the first team directly depends on the strength of the second team.
It is a fact.
- Don't you think that in Russia young footballers are often called up to the national team quite late? The same Callum Hudson-Odoi was called up to the England team at the age of 18, although even now he does not always make it to Chelsea.
- There are reasons for this.
Firstly, we only have a very talented generation.
Secondly, they demand results from Cherchesov here and now, and he relies on players whom he completely trusts.
In addition, it is a little incorrect to compare Russia with England, the Netherlands or France.
There's a lot more choice.
- But what is the primary reason - the lack of talent of Russian footballers or the excessive conservatism of the coaching staff?
- I think the first.
Look at the attackers.
Evgeny Lutsenko first got into the national team at 33.
Artyom Dzyuba at the same age is her main star.
Which of the young forwards can compete with them?
Probably no one.
The same Fedor Chalov is now performing at a different level.
Who else?
Ivan Ignatiev?
- Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat were criticized for betting on proven footballers. Don't you think that soon Cherchesov may also be criticized for this?
- If we take the model of behavior of the strongest national teams in the world, then it is built on a positive movement, gradual development.
For example, Germany.
The federation made a big bet on the 2006 home world championship, but then everything ended in failure.
And they developed a national program for the development of football in order to win the world championship after a certain time and be the best at all ages.
In 2014, they won the cup, and now they have mega-talented youth in their ranks.
- What is the top priority in Russia?
- Instant result.
Our specialists are simply not given a lot of time.
The same Cherchesov cannot come up and say: "Let's send young people to Euro 2020, and at the next World Championship we will set the task of competing for medals."
It will feel strange.
There are similar problems in Russian football clubs.
Only six rounds have passed, and we are already talking about four possible coaching resignations.
- Speaking about the composition, one of the most unexpected ones was probably Roman Neustädter's challenge ...
- For me, this is also a big surprise.
- Does the presence of a free agent in the team confirm the thesis that the center of defense is the most problematic line of the Russian national team?
- It seems to me that the fact is that Cherchesov continues to rely on those who have not let him down before.
Believes that they will perform well now.
In my opinion, why not try the same Igor Diveev?
A fairly promising footballer who continues to open up.
- What can you say about Maxim Osipenko?
- He has all the prerequisites to become a key player.
Stably appears in the "Rostov".
He is 26 years old.
At this age, with its capabilities and ambitions, you need to constantly be in the cage of the national team.
While this is a player for the national team "to grow".
But it's high time.
- Apart from Neustädter, whose positions do you question?
- With all due respect to Daler Kuzyaev, I was surprised by his invitation.
I think that in his place it was possible to take a player who has constant practice in his team.
- Who could replace Kuzyaev?
- The same Daniil Fomin, who received the challenge later.
You could also see Konstantin Kuchaev and Ivan Oblyakov, Daniil Utkin, Nail Umyarov.
The choice is great, the only question is whether specific players fit Cherchesov's model of play.
And how important they are for the "youth".
- Do you have any other candidatures?
- I don't really understand how Yegor Sorokin deserved the challenge.
And the same Andrei Mostovoy most likely received it for his performance last season, and not this one.
- There is also a shortage of left-backs - 37-year-old Yuri Zhirkov and Fyodor Kudryashov can play in this position. In this regard, you are not surprised by the absence of Georgy Shchennikov?
- This is the clip player.
He is already 29 years old.
I think we need to either take on proven footballers or look for new names.
- Injuries of Golovin and Miranchuk seriously weakened the attacking potential of the national team. Who from the current composition can compensate for their absence?
- Zelimkhan Bakaev may well shine.
If in the national team he gets the opportunity to play under the attackers, then this can be a kind of injection of confidence for him.
Also Rifat Zhemaletdinov and Alexey Ionov can help in the attack.
- Don't you think that in the absence of Golovin and Miranchuk, the game will be simplified to the maximum and will be reduced solely to throwing on Artyom Dzyuba?
- I do not remember that the Russian national team acted especially inventively.
First of all, our results depend on organized defense, and trying to play attacking football turns into problems.
I think team discipline is very important.
There is no need to invent anything: a throw on Dziuba, a discount, Bakaev or Ionov pick up the ball.
Yes, when Golovin and Miranchuk are present in the line-up, the anticipation of something very cool is created.
- Why not use it?
- It seems to me that the Russian national team under Cherchesov is about something else.
- The other day Lokomotiv approved the transfer of Miranchuk to Atalanta. How would you rate this transition?
- We have very few people performing in Europe.
And when they come to the national team, we immediately see the difference.
And not only tactically, but also psychologically.
When you play against Real Madrid, Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain, you will no longer be surprised by the matches against the national teams of France or Belgium.
In this regard, the transfer of Miranchuk to Atalanta is a powerful move.
- Returning to the match with Serbia, what tactical scheme do you think Cherchesov will choose?
- There are a lot of options.
The Russian national team may well play according to the 4-2-3-1 scheme or release three central defenders on the field.
I do not think that Cherchesov will move away from the defensive model.
Of course, Serbia can hardly be called a top-class team, but it is a rather serious contender.
You can brush up on what worked in the past, try something new.
- Usually Cherchesov releases one forward on the field, but in the same Zenit Artyom Dziuba comes out in conjunction with Serdar Azmun. Don't you think that a specialist can try to reflect this scheme in the national team?
- Sobolev and Komlichenko are very similar to Dziuba.
Therefore, if you release it in tandem, then with Smolov.
On the other hand, if there is a bulk, then this option is not excluded.
You can put at least all three.
But I think that Artyom has no alternative as the main striker.
- Recently, Dziuba is not in the best shape - a four-league "dry" streak, rumors of back problems. Will this not force Cherchesov to change his mind about the main striker?
- Yes, Dziuba is in bad shape now, and Sobolev is hot.
But I think that Artyom will appear anyway from the first minutes.
He is the leader, the captain.
And the situation is different.
Otherwise, the midfield will be built.
- If Cherchesov still decides to play two forwards, how likely is it that Sobolev will appear together with Dzyuba?
- If you choose the two best strikers on the basis of playing qualities, then they are Dzyuba and Sobolev.
The question is "chemistry".
- What is your forecast for the match between the national teams of Russia and Serbia in the League of Nations?
- The minimum victory of the Russian national team will suit absolutely everyone.
Yes, it will be quite difficult with the Serbs.
There are enough high-level footballers playing in the strongest European championships.
The same Luka Jovic from Real Madrid.
Personally, I would be interested to watch Djordje Despotovich's performance in the national team.
Interestingly, what he was taught in "Orenburg" and "Rubin".
Denis Kazansky will comment on the meeting of the Russian national team in the League of Nations with the Hungarian national team on September 6. The broadcast will begin at 19:00 on the Match Premier TV channel.