The 2018 World Cup is finally here and the hosts are more than ready. Or are they? Russia will kick things off in less than 10 days time and while there is certainly plenty to like about the side there are also certainly many things to be concerned about.
So what are the three hopes and one fear for this Russia side? Let’s read on and find out!
Hope #1: That they can deliver a quality opening match.
Chances are by now you, our loyal readers, have reviewed the schedule. There are probably matches that you have circled on your calendar that will force you to miss weddings, birthdays, and funerals or even work (Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us). But odds are there are some matches that maybe you can avoid. We are going to go out on a limb and suspect that the 2018 World Cup opener between Russia and Saudi Arabia is one such match. Whether it is the lack of knowledge around either side or the general unwillingness to sit through hours of pre-game pagaentry the game just feels like one that folks can pass on.
Make no mistake about it: This is a critical match for Russia though. Off of the pitch this is Russia’s opportunity to show that it is not to be taken lightly on the world stage. There are many preconceptions about Russia from the outside that we are sure Russian President Vladimir Putin is none too pleased about. This is an opportunity for the country to show that it is modernized, that it can pull off even like this, and that it isn’t backwards.
On the pitch, this is a must-win game for Sbornaya. In Uruguay should be considered the overwhelming favorites to first. After that it really is anyone’s game with Egypt’s edge likely gone after the injury to Mohamed Salah in the UEFA Champions League Final. Russia need to get three points against a Saudi Arabian side that will be making their first World Cup appearance since 2006. That they haven’t won a match in seven games will certainly be a point of concern for Russian supporters. But a good start with three points against a side that should be beatable will give them a bit of hope.
Hope #2: That they can score some goals.
In their last ten matches Russia has been outscored by their opponents 16-7. Considering that two of those goals were scored against New Zealand, by all accounts a minnow in world football, at the FIFA Confederations Cup and one can see that Russia are having trouble finding the back of the net.
Russian head coach Stanislav Cherchersov likes to play a very conservative, counter-attacking style that relies heavily on one forward doing most of the work. That means the responsibility of creating attacking chances falls on Fyodor Smolov, the forward from Krasnodor who scored 14 goals in the Russian Premier League last season. In the FIFA Confederations Cup he showed that he could take on multiple defenders and create his own shot. Both Saudi Arabia (10 goals allowed) and Uruguay (20 goals allowed) struggled with maintaining their defensive shape during qualification so he should have some attacking chances. But Russia need to rely on more than one player to score and that’s the big question for this side as it enters group play.
Hope #3: That Yuri Zhirkov can keep his side composed.
Perhaps one of the most fun things about the World Cup is looking at the rosters and realizing that some players that you long thought retired are still actually playing. Take Yuri Zhirkov of Russia. Zhirkov might perhaps be known for his time with Chelsea back in the late 2000s/early 2010s. Unless you have been watching the Russian Premier League chances are you haven’t been catching many of his highlights but he returned to Russia and the RPL and has had a quality run with Zenit St. Petersburg.
Russia as a side aren’t that inexperienced in terms of age but they are inexperienced when it comes to playing in big games. There is nothing quite like hosting a World Cup and there are added expectations that come with such a responsibility. Zhirkov has with both Chelsea and Zenit played in matches where the stakes were extraordinarily high which will hopefully benefit the home side in key situations.
The big fear: That they will become the second side ever to fail to make the knockout round.
World Cup hosts typically have two responsibilities when it comes to the play on the pitch: advance past the first round and put on a respectable performance. The second task is usually pretty easy as the rest of the world generally understands that there is immense pressure in hosting the biggest sporting event in the world. Even seven goal drubbings are overlooked as most people can understand that this is a billion dollar competition and the players are often given the most stick when things outside of their control are going on.
But the first task can be a bit more of a challenge. While only one host has ever failed to reach the knockout stage (2010-South Africa) many sides have come close. Due to more sides having players play in quality leagues around the world there really is no such thing as an easy win anymore.
For Russia to advance they need for two things to go their way: to not have the score run up on them against Uruguay and get results against Egypt and Saudi Arabia. They have to fancy their chances against the Saudis but Egypt is an entirely different story. At the Confederations Cup they showed that they could contain a star striker if needed when they held Ronaldo to one goal. But again, one goal was enough was all Portugal needed. The margins are that thin in competitions like this and that is what has to make Russian supporters worried: that all Salah needs is one chance to put things away for Egypt and knock out Russia.
Russia
2018 World Cup
