"There are no passing games now": Cherchesov and Dziuba on the qualifying match with Malta and injuries of Zobnin and Ozdoev

"We have performers who can replace Zobnin and Ozdoev"

The Russian national team held a pre-match press conference on the eve of the meeting with Malta, in which the coach of the national team Stanislav Cherchesov, as well as its captain Artyom Dzyuba, took part.

The specialist spoke about the future rival and informed about the state of the legionnaires who arrived at the location of the team on the night from Sunday to Monday.

- How would you rate the gathering of the national team?

- Completed all the work that was planned.

Another thing is that the team was not in full force, but this is normal.

We had the opportunity to postpone the last round of the RPL, but the matches of the rest of the European national championships took place on the weekend.

Therefore, Alexander Golovin, Alexey Miranchuk, Alexander Zhirov and Fedor Kudryashov joined us directly in Malta.

The only thing is that Magomed Ozdoev will not take part in the next game due to injury.

Well, Roman Zobnin did not come to the training camp at all due to damage.

- How did you manage to resolve the issue with Golovin's participation in the match with Slovenia?

In what state have the players who played in foreign championships over the weekend arrived?

- They are healthy and have arrived in a good mood. 

Antalyaspor made it to the Turkish Cup final.

Monaco and Atalanta won victories.

It is clear that their condition is different.

Someone flew less, someone longer.

On Monday, the legionnaires held their first training session with us.

As for Golovin and other players, the RFU worked for the top five.

The federation was in contact with UEFA and the clubs.

Now all the players are in Malta and will be with us until the end, with the exception of Zhirov, who will not be able to fly to Slovakia.

- The set pieces are a strong weapon for the Malta national team.

Pay attention to this?

- Naturally, we pay attention to everything.

In Sochi, we have already figured out how the opponent plays in defense.

Today we will study in theory how they act in an attack, including talking about standards.

Now in training, Ginataras Stauche once again pointed out to the players who should be located where when serving.

Malta successfully performed in its division in the League of Nations.

Last year, the opponent played seven fairly high-quality matches, so we analyze it as carefully as possible, although we do not pay attention to the names.

It should also be noted that a fairly high-quality coach Davis Manja works with the Maltese.

The team's game has changed in comparison with previous years.

- The Russian national team, on the eve of the start of qualification, lost two players of the same role at once - Zobnin and Ozdoev.

How will this affect the team's tactics?

- We have performers who can replace them.

Stanislav Mukhin was specially summoned, who held all the meetings in 2021 at a good level.

Golovin and Miranchuk may close several positions.

We will proceed from what we have outlined.

We conducted several tactical trainings in Sochi, they turned out to be of sufficient quality.

We trust all our charges.

It is clear that Ozdoev and Zobnin are the players of the national team.

Another thing is that in football there is no injury without injuries, and we take them calmly.

At almost every training camp, someone is eliminated.

For example, in November 14 people were left without, now only two were missing.

Better now.

- The Russian national team will play three matches in seven days.

Are you going to rotate the line-up somehow?

- As part of this training camp, we had several days of preparation more than the previous one, which is already a plus.

Four players arrived on the night from Sunday to Monday.

The last training session made it possible to assess their condition.

The legionnaires did not take part in tactical exercises.

Today, everyone is waiting for theory and individual conversations.

We will decide who will be in the main squad tomorrow, based on readiness and game plan.

- Are you considering the possibility of playing two strikers?

- Firstly, in the League of Nations, we spent about ten minutes in the match with Hungary.

Football is changing, and so is the situation.

There used to be many friendly games in which there was an opportunity to experiment.

In the training process, we work out the moments when Alexander Sobolev and Dzyuba or Anton Zabolotny and Sobolev play together.

I have ideas.

Another thing is to find an opportunity to implement them efficiently.

It all depends on the situation.

The main thing for me is that they communicate in life and in training.

- How to properly distribute forces at the training camp?

- All teams are on the start line and are on an equal footing.

Artyom said that one cannot predict in advance how everything will turn out.

It is no coincidence that we say that there are three games ahead of us at once.

Now we are thinking about Malta.

The rest of the meetings - later.

Any team wants to start the selection with a positive result.

Malta is set up the same way.

At the international level, there are no easy matches.

It sounds corny, but it really is.

“It will turn out to score - super.

No - I will prepare for the next meeting "

In turn, Dziuba warned the fans against underestimating the opponent and stressed that the overall level of the national teams in the world has grown in recent years, and even the "dwarf" teams have learned to defend themselves.

Also, the striker accused those people who believe that the Russian national team got the "passing" qualifying group of unprofessionalism.

- How would you rate the gathering of the national team?

- Many players, including me, missed the national team and were looking forward to the moment of the meeting.

All, with the exception of Zobnin and Ozdoev, performed at a high quality level.

Everyone is happy.

We are preparing for the upcoming matches in a good mood.

Tomorrow, I hope, we will show our best qualities.

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent?

How can Malta be dangerous?

- It seems to me that the overall level of the teams as a whole has grown.

There are no pass matches as such now.

Malta has been dismantled more than once, and today we are in for a deep analysis.

We know that this is a strong team that acts with five defenders, trying to control the ball and get out of defense through a pass.

We understand where and how it is necessary to put pressure on the opponent, and we hope that everything will work out tomorrow.

But, again, we do not consider this game to be a passing game for us.

- The match with Malta is a great opportunity to get closer to the record holder in the number of goals for the Russian national team, Alexander Kerzhakov.

Do you set a specific goal for this game in terms of the number of goals scored?

- I cannot say that this is my dream, the main thing is that the team wins.

Of course, the striker is valuable with goals, but it is important to play correctly with your partners.

You need to score three points.

It will turn out to score - super.

No - I will prepare for the next meeting.

- How do you feel after suffering a coronavirus?

- I will not say that I was seriously ill - it was unpleasant.

I missed the training camp, I had to catch up.

I don’t even remember it anymore.

It seems to me that there are no consequences left.

- Thomas Muller in 2016, after Germany's victory over San Marino (8: 0), said that such meetings "have nothing to do with professional football" and carry only additional risks for the players.

In your opinion, is the presence of dwarf national teams in the qualifying stages justified?

- Hard to say.

I am in favor of the popularization of football.

Dwarf national teams are adding big strides and in the near future, I think, will not be considered as such.

Everyone is able to defend themselves qualitatively now.

Since such commands exist, then this is normal.

You must not deprive them of the opportunity to speak.

Everyone should have a chance to qualify for one or another major tournament.

- How do you assess the opportunity to play in the national team with two strikers?

- Stanislav Salamovich replied that we are trying different options.

Make a decision for the coaching staff.

But at Zenit we constantly play two strikers.

In terms of interaction, there are no problems.

As they say, I am for any kipish.

- How do you feel about the fact that the game with Malta is called easy?

- Those who think that we got the passing group are not professionals.

We prepare for each match separately, everyone wants to score the maximum points.

- How do such bright and intense championship matches as against CSKA affect the players of the national team?

- We have a day or two in the national team after arrival, as a rule, calm.

Then Cherchesov gives the message to forget about club affairs.

Then there is only the Russian national team, which must fulfill its tasks.

Any footballer aspires to play for the national team.

The anthem of your country is playing here.

We know what tasks are set before us, and we will try to solve them.

For this we have gathered.