"It doesn't matter what scheme we play": Evseev on the readiness of the Russian national team for Euro

- What are your impressions of your friendly matches with Poland and Bulgaria?

- I was glad that in the first game our players had a good movement.

In the second meeting, we did not see the optimal composition, although this, probably, was not implied by the coaching staff.

They initially wanted to see a certain combination.

But Fyodor Kudryashov, due to an injury received during the warm-up, had to be changed to Andrei Semyonov.

At the same time, Stanislav Cherchesov wanted to use not Semyonov in the very center of defense, but Georgy Dzhikia.

Dmitry Barinov initially decided to try in defense.

But he received a fairly wide functionality with regular connections to the attack.

Vyacheslav Karavaev on the right flank was also constantly moving forward.

- Did the appearance of the nominal defensive player Barinov in the center of defense surprise you?

- That's what control games are for, so that during the tournament the coaching staff has a clear understanding of whether he can use a football player in a particular zone.

- What impression did the Lokomotiv midfielder play in a new role?

- We saw that he lost some of the martial arts to the tall striker of rivals Andrei Galabinov.

There were also failures.

This is all food for thought for Cherchesov.

The more information the better.

Although Barinov will be useful in attacking actions in this position, difficulties can arise in defensive actions.

But I can't say if Dmitry will appear in the center of defense in the starting meeting between Euro and Belgium.

- Can Kudryashov's injury be called a tragedy for the national team, given the team's problems in defense?

- Who put such a label?

Are we missing in every match?

In my opinion, only the confrontation with Serbia at the end of last year, when the Russians experienced certain problems, became a failure in this regard.

The main thing is that we win, and do not leave our goal intact.

- That is, the defense line cannot be called the weakest zone of the national team?

- Cherchesov and his assistants are looking for options.

I think they decided long ago who and where will play.

Now Barinov was tried in defense and got an idea of ​​his actions in this area.

The extended application contributes to this.

- And yet Kudryashov's injury a week before the continental championship is a tragedy for the national team?

- And there is no other word? There are other players in the squad as well. Again, Barinov's check in the center of defense went into the hands to some extent. If someone gets hurt, he is ready to help. Plus, don't forget about Igor Diveev. Yes, and Roman Evgeniev, previously uncoupled from the national team, can now be added to the application instead of Kudryashov. But still, the left-footed defender plays a big role, although Jikia can close this zone. Remember what happened before the World Cup. There was noise and din. But the coaching staff understood everything and worked out certain schemes and connections. Then I even had to return Sergei Ignashevich to the national team. And now the composition is being run-in. That's why test matches are needed to understand who to count on Euro.

- With Poland and Bulgaria, Russia played three central defenders.

Does this mean that a similar formation will be used in the continental championship?

- It doesn't matter what scheme we play.

It is important how we will be ready and how the players will fulfill certain requirements of the coaching staff.

- Continuing the topic of functional readiness, what impression did you have from two friendly games?

It seemed that in the match with Bulgaria, Cherchesov's ward ran easier.

- On the contrary, I liked the movement at the meeting with Poland more.

The footballers were more active in pressing.

It is no coincidence that Leonid Slutsky, during the broadcast of the match with Bulgaria, said that the players, to some extent, could subconsciously fear injury.

Like it or not, but fear is present.

On the other hand, perhaps this is the effect of the large loads received during the collection.

In addition, the team still has the opportunity to work.

There is a week left before the confrontation with Belgium in the Euro.

- During this time, the national team is able to significantly add in functional terms?

- Only Cherchesov's headquarters can give an answer to such a question, because they have all the information about the state of the wards.

There are people there who bring all the necessary statistics to the coaches.

We are left to guess.

But it is clear that the preparation is carried out with an eye to the Euro, and not to test matches.

All work is based on getting to the main tournament in good physical condition.

- In that case, you were not surprised that the Russians looked better in the match with Poland than in the game with Bulgaria?

Logically, it should be the other way around.

“Not at all necessary.

This effect could be caused by the fact that before the first meeting the players received a great load and then, having entered the field, ran well.

But this does not mean at all that further functional readiness should go on increasing.