"It's great when new faces appear in the team": how the Russian national team prepares for the test match with Sweden

"Everything goes according to plan"

The Russian national football team continues preparations for a friendly match with Sweden, as well as for meetings with Turkey and Hungary within the League of Nations.

The night before, Valencia midfielder Denis Cheryshev, who was absent from the first training session, arrived from Spain at the base of the national team in Novogorsk near Moscow.

All Stanislav Cherchesov's wards were engaged in the general group.

The training itself was tactical.

In addition, the players underwent functional tests and, in accordance with the medical protocol, passed another coronavirus test.

“We already have experience in the previous collection, all the mechanisms regarding accommodation and access to the base have been worked out.

Yes, they are cumbersome and difficult, but we understand that the situation has become more difficult, and this is done to preserve the health and safety of athletes.

We fulfill all the requirements, observe social distance outside the training process, there are no problems.

We regularly pass tests, everything is going according to plan, ”said the chief physician of the Russian national team Eduard Bezuglov.

Before the lesson, the team, together with all members of the coaching staff, held a photo session.

Lokomotiv midfielder Dmitry Barinov, who recently underwent cruciate ligament surgery and is missing the current training camp, has also joined his colleagues.

According to Bezuglov, Barinov's restoration is going according to plan.

He suggested that the footballer will be able to start individual training after the New Year, and in the spring he will join the main group.

As for the injured Alexander Golovin and Alexei Miranchuk, the medical headquarters also constantly maintains contact with them.

“We have the right to wait for Golovin and Miranchuk to return to the general groups of their teams immediately after the current training camp.

They have positive dynamics.

The clubs did not speed up the recovery, the national team supported them in this.

Damage to defender Andrei Semyonov has nothing to do with the collection.

He had a slight inflammation of the pelvic muscles.

We carried out diagnostics, contacted colleagues from "Akhmat", and chose the tactics of treatment.

Now he is doing well, he is studying in the general group, ”the specialist explained.

In addition, he gave advice on how to protect yourself in a pandemic.

“The precautions that Rospotrebnadzor, RFU, UEFA are talking about are enough to protect ourselves.

Wash your hands, maintain social distance, wear a mask - these are not empty words.

From this point of view, it may be easier for athletes, because they are under constant control.

I would add that you need to sleep longer, more vitamins D and C. There is nothing else to think of here, there is no specific prevention, ”concluded Bezuglov.

"The fans miss the national team too"

The players themselves answered the questions of the journalists.

So, Krasnodar midfielder Igor Smolnikov, who urgently arrived at the camp of the national team instead of the injured Sergei Petrov, admitted that he learned about the appointment personally from Cherchesov.

“Stanislav Salamovich called the day before leaving for Moscow, we talked, and he said what he was calling.

Of course, I am now on a kind of emotional swing.

On the one hand, Krasnodar qualified for the Champions League, on the other hand, lost to Dynamo before the training camp.

But in any case, all the bad things should be analyzed and left there, and come here with a fresh mind and not think about it, ”Smolnikov noted.

He positively assessed the state of the current team and said that he liked the way it looked in the first League of Nations matches with Serbia and Hungary.

“It's great that new faces are appearing.

The team is good, talented guys who are ready to achieve results.

I watched the match with Serbia, I liked the game, they deservedly took the upper hand.

We also played well with the Hungarians, they just relaxed at some point, but still they brought the matter to victory, ”the midfielder shared his impressions.

Two Krasnodar players, midfielders Kristoffer Olsson and Viktor Klasson, were called up to the Swedish national team for the match against Russia.

Despite the fact that Smolnikov is well acquainted with these players, he stressed that it is still difficult to predict how the opponent will act.

“Of course it's easier to play when you know your opponent.

But I would not focus on this, because it is not known who will enter the field with them, what tactics they will choose.

The coach will analyze and tell us everything.

I quickly adapted to Krasnodar, it helped me that I had already played for this team before, "Smolnikov added.

Rostov midfielder Alexei Ionov is also happy to return to the team.

He noted that he is not embarrassed by the fact that the team has to play three matches in 10 days, as he always goes on the field to win.

“There is always a good atmosphere in the team.

We have already had a couple of recovery trainings, today we will analyze the opponent in more detail in theoretical classes, ”Ionov said.

He also recalled the previous meeting, in which the Russian national team conceded two goals, leading 3: 0, and assured that the team had drawn conclusions and would try not to repeat their mistakes.

“Perhaps then we relaxed a little, got tired.

And all this together influenced the result.

But it was a call for us that we shouldn't bring the situation to this point and play for a win to the end.

The Hungarians have a good team, I think the return match in Moscow will be interesting, ”the midfielder suggested.

The October matches of the national team will be held with spectators for the first time after a pause.

This fact cannot but rejoice both the fans and the Cherchesov wards themselves.

“Of course, the audience is better.

Therefore, we are looking forward to the upcoming match.

I think the fans also missed the national team, to support it from the stands.

I have good memories of the match in Rostov, the stadium is full.

If the national team returns to the city, they will be only welcome, ”concluded Ionov.