Fabio Capello wants to kick start the tournament with a win against Green and White Army; Northern Ireland are eyeing progress to the group stages
The Russian national team will lock horns with Northern Ireland in the opening match of the World Cup qualifiers at Stadion Lokomotiv on Friday, September 7th, 2012. Both teams will return to action following a disappointing
campaign at Euro 2012.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Capello has made several changes to his squad after the European tournament and Michael O’Neill, on the other hand, wants to write his name into the history books after securing a place in the group stages for his side since
1986.
Russia
The Russian national team has dropped two places from 13th spot to 11th after a below par European tournament. The Euro 2008 semi-finalists crashed out of the tournament after suffering a 1-0 defeat in the
last group stage game against Euro 2004 winners, Greece.
Capello, who signed a two-year contract with the Russian national team after d**k Advocaat’s shocking departure to PSV-Eindhoven in July, will be hoping to re-establish his name after resigning as England’s boss in February.
Northern Ireland
The Irish team will play the upcoming game against Capello’s men after a pulsating 3-3 draw in an international friendly against Finland national team on August 15th, 2012. Reports in Russia suggest that the Norn Iron
have reached Russia and will start training today.
Team News
Russia
Capello is relying upon young and talented players after excluding the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Andrei-Arshavin-c5771 from the 23-man squad ahead of the qualifying match.
The Italian tactician will now be sweating on the fitness of Spartak Moscow goal-machine, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Artem-Dzyuba-c6682, after the prolific striker sustained a latest injury. If speculations are to be believed, the former Real Madrid coach might
call Fulham’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pavel-Pogrebnyak-c29501 to the national team.
With Zenit St. Petersburg goalkeeper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Igor-Akinfeev-c16676.
Expected starting line-up: Akinfeev, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aleksandr-Kokorin-c4576,
Aleksandr Kerzhakov
Northern Ireland
Celtic midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Patrick-c29254 McCourt, is unable to take part in the match with Russia because of a groin injury. In addition, Newcastle midfielder, Shane Ferguson, and Burnley striker, Martin Paterson, will miss the match after sustaining
latest injuries.
Expected starting line-up: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roy-Carroll-c31810,
Gareth McAuley, Johnny Evans, Chris Baird, Lee Hodson, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steven-Davis-c34191, Kyle Lafferty, and Jamie Ward.
Players to Watch:
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aleksandr-Kerzhakov-c4569 (Russia and Zenit St. Petersburg)
Kerzhakov started all three group stage matches for his national side at Euros, but failed to score a European goal.
However, the former Dynamo Moscow forward, who is in scintillating form at the moment is raring to go, having already scored six goals in four Russian Premier League appearances this season.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Sion-c39212)
Lafferty, who moved to the Swiss Super League after a compelling three-year period with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rangers-c40314, scored the equalizer in Ireland’s 3-3 draw in the friendly International match against Finland earlier last month.
The 24-year-old striker has scored 31 goals for his former club prior to completing a move to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Switzerland-c3016 this summer.
Prediction
Given that Northern Ireland have a weal track record in the tournament in the past, Capello can secure an early win with an experienced squad. Verdict: 3-1
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