SOCCER-EURO/RUSSIA AUSTRIA Russia and Austria train ahead of Euro 2016 qualifier

Record ID: 151105

  • Title: SOCCER-EURO/RUSSIA AUSTRIA Russia and Austria train ahead of Euro 2016 qualifier
  • Date: 13th June 2015
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JUNE 13, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN TEAM TRAINING RUSSIAN NATIONAL TEAM COACH FABIO CAPELLO (ON THE RIGHT) WALKING AT FIELD VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN TEAM TRAINING RUSSIAN GOALKEEPER IGOR AKINFEEV DURING TRAINING VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN TEAM TRAINING FABIO CAPELLO WATCHING VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN TEAM TRAINING NEWS CONFERENCE BY RUSSIAN NATIONAL TEAM COACH FABIO CAP
  • Embargoed: 28th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA32M1AKQ0WMHZSQFV3BIKYLO99
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Russian national soccer team prepared for a clash against unbeaten Group G leaders Austria in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Moscow on Sunday (June 14).
    Austria has won four matches so far and drew one, which puts it at the top of the group with 13 points. Russia have and are in third place after Sweden with nine.
    Austria and Russia have met three times since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Two games were won by Russia, but the last one, the first-leg Group G meeting in Vienna in November 2014, ended with 1-0 victory for Austrians.
    However, Russia are unbeaten in 11 competitive home qualifiers since a 1-0 loss to Slovakia in 2010 in the qualifying for EURO 2012.
    The team's coach Fabio Capello highly praised the team at a news conference in Moscow on Saturday (June 13).
    "The team (Austrian team) is very good in counterattacking, very dangerous in standard situations and plays very compact throughout the whole game," he said.
    Russian defender Vasili Berezutski, who missed Russia's game against Belarus last Sunday (June 7), will be able to help their team as they take on Austria on Sunday.
    Soccer-debutant Alexander Golovin, who scored a goal in Russia-Belarus game will miss the upcoming match because of injury. It is still unclear if centre back Sergei Ignashevich is going to play tomorrow, Capello said.
    There are some absences in the Austrian team too. The team's leader, David Alaba who has been nominated four times Austria's best player, is still recovering from a knee injury and will miss the game in Moscow.
    Austrian coach Marcel Koller said that his team plans to stretch their lead in Group G.
    "In regard to our current position, yes, we really top the group. We wish our self-confidence wouldn't hamper us tomorrow. We understand that we have managed to prove our place with our pretty good playing and we want to confirm that tomorrow. Speaking of Russia - it is actually a very good team, well-organized, with very fast players. But I hope that in spite of that we will succeed tomorrow," said Koller.
    The match kicks off at 1600 gmt at Moscow's "Otkrytie Arena" stadium.
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