Russian team, "is the steel tempered yet"?

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this is the fourth time the Russian team has participated in the World Cup. However, the Russians have never passed the group stage despite having names like Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko in their squad.

In the last 7 friendly matches before the 2018 World Cup, the Russian team did not know victory, they lost 4 matches and drew 3. Experts and FIFA are worried and skeptical about the ability of Mr. Cherchesov and his students to continue.

According to a survey by a Russian television station, only 26% of viewers believe that coach Cherchesov and his team can pass the group stage. That number shows that the trust in the home team has never been so depleted.

Faith returns

Coach Cherchesov and the Russian team lacked significant tactical creativity, playing with the popular 4-2-3-1 formation. But Cherchesov inspired his players, Dzyuba being the most specific example.

Dzyuba always receives the trust of his teacher - Coach Cherchesov. Photo: Internet

He was sent on to replace Smorlov and scored for the Russian team in less than a minute. Remember, a year ago, he left the team after having a conflict with coach Cherchesov.

Dzyuba played impressively, so he took the starting position in the match against Egypt. And once again, this striker scored, responding to the trust and expectations that coach Cherchesov had for him.

Dzyuba repaid his teacher's trust by giving a soldier's salute right after that goal. A very beautiful and very Russian image was shown in front of thousands of spectators at the Krestovsky Stadium. Coach Stanislav Cherchesov made the right decision when he started Artem Dzyuba against Egypt instead of Fyodor Smolov.

But the Russian team is not only Dzyuba, now the famous European club has paid attention to Denis Cheryshev, Aleksandr Golovin. The Russian attack has surprised with 8 goals after only two matches against Saudi Arabia and Egypt, introducing a series of new faces.

Having already secured tickets, the match with Uruguay was just a matter of procedure, as the first or second place in Group A and Group B being Portugal or Spain would not make much of a difference. Therefore, the match with the South American representative was just for coach Cherchesov to test his attacking options.

In fact, it is not Brazil, Germany, Argentina but Russia, England, Belgium, Croatia that are the teams with attractive and captivating playing styles.

Among the teams with resounding victories, the home team's attack is the only team without a star of continental, let alone global stature. Coach Cherchesov has been able to ignite his players to play with great enthusiasm, full of emotion for the audience in the stands.

If the first match's 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia was still doubtful, the 3-0 victory over Egypt showed that the Russian team was back. They won not because of the home team's advantage with the audience and referee, but because of the players' relentless efforts on the field. The small, fast style of football typical of Russian football was demonstrated skillfully.

Big challenge

Uruguay is also a surprising team in Group A with the presence of the Russian team but is still showing a rather pale face. Although experts consider them the strongest team in the group, what coach Oscar Tabarez and his team left behind was a disjointed and lifeless style of play.

They only managed to win by narrow margins against two much weaker teams, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, despite possessing two of the world's top strikers, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.

Russian players, they are fighting like soldiers. Photo: Internet

Perhaps coach Cherchesov will take advantage of the match to test goalkeeper Akinfeev and the defenders including Zhirkov, Ignashevich, Kutepov, Fernandes against Cavani and Luis Suarez before entering the knockout round.

This is the time to answer the Russian audience with names like Zobnin, Golovin, Cheryshev, Samedov, Dzyuba "has the steel been tempered yet"!