Nagan-4
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The Slovenians really didn't impress with their game. Their attack plays on the principle of "let's just run and hope for the best." Their defense conceded few goals only because there was no one to put pressure on in the group: the Slovaks played with the same primitive football, and the Czechs and Poles were locked in a stalemate.
1-2 decent forwards would make a mockery of the Slovak defense, and there will be about a dozen or so such teams at the World Cup, starting with Spain and ending with Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
Belyaletdinov, even not in his best form, scored 2 goals with the complete helplessness of the Slovak defense; he could have scored a third.
Any team that is a finalist, even if not full of stars, with well-coordinated teamwork, like Paraguay, Mexico, or Korea, is better than the Slovenians – more cohesive, smarter.
How did we lose to them? In my opinion, the main reason is that we sold all the players who could create and score at the level of European national teams to the West at once. Arshavin, Zhirkov, Pavlyuchenko, Pogrebnyak, and Belyaletdinov were leaders in their clubs, showered with attention and adored by fans. After the sale, they turned into benchwarmers, sitting on the benches in England. Our main stars did not adapt to their new status, hence the decline in morale.
Those who remained in Russia still do not reach their potential before the World Cup games; they are more like followers (except for Akinfeev). Despite all my respect for Zyryanov, Denisov, or the Berezutsky brothers.
Therefore, the 2009 national team is much weaker than the 2008 national team, even with the same players.
Forecast:
Slovenia will fail miserably in the group stage of the World Cup, ending up among the worst teams along with the Slovaks, Honduras, and New Zealand.
Russia will get time to rebuild. Hiddink will most likely leave (it's a pity, but the example of Advocaat is too tempting). Oil prices will slowly rise, and 3-4 of our stars will return from England to Russia next year. The national team coach will most likely be Russian. Being in the first pot gives a chance for an easier group in the new Euro qualifying round.
We will calmly and without nerves watch the World Cup, and the final between an African team (Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast) and a Brazilian team is quite possible.
In general, America, Africa, and Asia have really selected the best, I can't remember when there was such a strong World Cup. On the other hand, Spain, the Netherlands, England, and Italy are very good, but the climate is unusual for Europeans.
P.S. I feel sorry for the Irish; they played evenly against Italy and France in 2 games each; they are a tough team.
1-2 decent forwards would make a mockery of the Slovak defense, and there will be about a dozen or so such teams at the World Cup, starting with Spain and ending with Cameroon and Ivory Coast.
Belyaletdinov, even not in his best form, scored 2 goals with the complete helplessness of the Slovak defense; he could have scored a third.
Any team that is a finalist, even if not full of stars, with well-coordinated teamwork, like Paraguay, Mexico, or Korea, is better than the Slovenians – more cohesive, smarter.
How did we lose to them? In my opinion, the main reason is that we sold all the players who could create and score at the level of European national teams to the West at once. Arshavin, Zhirkov, Pavlyuchenko, Pogrebnyak, and Belyaletdinov were leaders in their clubs, showered with attention and adored by fans. After the sale, they turned into benchwarmers, sitting on the benches in England. Our main stars did not adapt to their new status, hence the decline in morale.
Those who remained in Russia still do not reach their potential before the World Cup games; they are more like followers (except for Akinfeev). Despite all my respect for Zyryanov, Denisov, or the Berezutsky brothers.
Therefore, the 2009 national team is much weaker than the 2008 national team, even with the same players.
Forecast:
Slovenia will fail miserably in the group stage of the World Cup, ending up among the worst teams along with the Slovaks, Honduras, and New Zealand.
Russia will get time to rebuild. Hiddink will most likely leave (it's a pity, but the example of Advocaat is too tempting). Oil prices will slowly rise, and 3-4 of our stars will return from England to Russia next year. The national team coach will most likely be Russian. Being in the first pot gives a chance for an easier group in the new Euro qualifying round.
We will calmly and without nerves watch the World Cup, and the final between an African team (Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast) and a Brazilian team is quite possible.
In general, America, Africa, and Asia have really selected the best, I can't remember when there was such a strong World Cup. On the other hand, Spain, the Netherlands, England, and Italy are very good, but the climate is unusual for Europeans.
P.S. I feel sorry for the Irish; they played evenly against Italy and France in 2 games each; they are a tough team.