Dangerous Lewandowski and strong Sweden: what was discussed after the draw for the 2022 World Cup play-offs

"We need to use fees effectively"

The play-off draw for the right to play in the 2022 World Cup has become a major topic of discussion in the football community.

The rival of the Russian national team in the semifinals was Poland.

In case of success in this match, Valery Karpin's charges will also meet at home with the winner of the Sweden - Czech Republic match.

The players of the national team reacted differently to the results of the draw.

Goalkeeper Matvey Safronov remembered that it was the match with the charges

Paulo Souza began his career in the national team for him.

“Accordingly, I have already become familiar with their style of play.

Grzegorz Krychowiak is playing in Krasnodar, we managed to exchange glances after we recognized our rivals.

The fact that we will play both matches at home is very important.

It is much more pleasant to play with your fans.

In addition, we will avoid additional travel and flights, which means additional stress on the body.

There is no favorite, it seems to me.

Anything is possible in blow-through matches.

The path of two meetings will be very difficult, but we can go through it.

I believe in our team, "the goalkeeper admitted in an interview with the RFU press service.

In turn, midfielder Denis Cheryshev wanted to see Turkey at the junctions, because he scores a lot in matches with her.

“The opponents are tough.

We met with Poland before the Euro, played a draw, but then there was no Lewandowski.

Glad to be performing at home.

I often remember the atmosphere of the 2018 World Cup and I think that it was the fans who helped us then achieve a high result, ”the midfielder said.

It is more difficult to assess the level of rivals for Daniil Fomin, who has so far played only eight matches for the national team and has not entered the field against Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden.

“I want to talk to Sebastian Shimanski on this topic tomorrow.

I think now, until March, we will have jokes and jokes with him.

To be honest, I'm not a fan of making predictions, so I didn't even think about who we would get, ”said the midfielder.

According to midfielder Zelimkhan Bakayev, the Russian national team's rivals at the joints are approximately equal in strength and a lot will depend on how the players will hold the pre-season training camp.

“Ready at the time of the game will definitely play a decisive role.

Therefore, we need to make the most of the training camps and get in the best shape.

With our fans, we will definitely be stronger.

I would like all of us to do it together - to get to the World Championship! "

- admitted the footballer.

"Must pass"

Football experts also noted the difficulty of preparing for the joints due to a pause in the Russian championship.

According to the former head coach of the team Valery Gazzaev, the match must be approached very seriously.

“Poland is an ambitious rival.

You shouldn't expect an easy game.

We must prepare thoroughly.

Is it realistic to go further?

There can be no other task.

In any case, our national team must participate in the World Championship, ”the expert emphasized in an interview with the Championship. 

The former goalkeeper of the USSR national team Anzor Kavazashvili is much more optimistic.

According to the expert, the national team got an excellent draw.

“Italy or Portugal would tear us to shreds.

You can go through Poland at home if you set up and prepare your team well.

Karpin must deal with this, now all the cards are in his hands.

And then Sweden or the Czech Republic - we can easily put them on our shoulder blades.

Moscow is behind us!

It is a pity that Dziuba will not be there.

There would be a nice confrontation with Lewandowski.

But there is still a lot of optimism, I believe in guys.

Russia will be in Qatar, ”Kavazashvili said in an interview with Sport24.

Former Manchester United midfielder Andrei Kanchelskis spoke more cautiously about the upcoming rivals.

He noted that the home stands will be the most important factor for Karpin's team.

“Poland is a great team with a good selection of players.

It will be very difficult.

I am glad that we are playing in Russia and there is time to prepare.

The main thing is to avoid injury.

All footballers must approach the match in good physical and psychological readiness, ”Kanchelskis said.

In turn, the former striker of the national team Igor Kolyvanov considers Sweden to be a much more dangerous rival of the national team. 

“The Poles are a solid team, with one of the best strikers of the last decade, Robert Lewandowski, playing.

He is a clear leader in both Bayern and the national team.

Poland has an experienced and organized team.

Knows what to do on the football field.

I'm worried about the Swedes more - they are very powerful.

Poland looked faded at the last Euro ", - quotes the words of a specialist" RB-Sport ".

I agree with Kolyvanov and the former goalkeeper of Moscow "Spartak" and the Polish national team Wojciech Kowalewski.

According to the goalkeeper, the national team is the favorite of the upcoming meeting.

“The game of the Poles against the Hungarians disappointed, there is a lot of talk around it, just like after the defeat of Russia by Croatia.

We can say that Karpin's charges do not have a pronounced leader, such as Lewandowski.

But in football, the high quality of team play and efficiency are valued above individual skill, ”the Pole said in an interview with TASS.

The former head coach of the Russian national team Stanislav Cherchesov stressed that the last friendly match with Poland, which took place before Euro 2020, does not give an understanding of the strength of the opponent, since not all leaders of the Paulo Souza team took part in that meeting.  

“We were also after a tough training camp.

At first they had good chances, then we owned the initiative.

That confrontation turned out to be interesting, "Cherchesov admitted.

At the same time, the coach noted that he was ready to meet with Karpin and discuss preparation with Poland.

“Our coaching staff will communicate without any problems and share their observations.

We help the national team, not a specific coach - whoever he is, ”the specialist said.