- Title: World Cup host Russia train ahead of friendly against South Korea
- Date: 6th October 2017
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 6, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIA NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM PLAYERS WARMING UP PLAYERS GATHERING TO LISTEN TO RUSSIA NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM MANAGER, STANISLAV CHERCHESOV CHERCHESOV SPEAKING TO PLAYERS PLAYERS LISTENING TO CHERCHESOV SOCCER BALLS ON PITCH VARIOUS OF TEAM PLAYERS WARMING UP RUNNING MEDIA TEAM PLAYERS STRETCHING AS CHERCHESOV WALKING PLAYER STRETCHING GOALKEEPER, IGOR AKINFEEV, WARMING UP VARIOUS OF TEAM PLAYERS DURING TRAINING TEAM MEMBERS WATCHING TEAM PLAYERS AT TRAINING CHERCHESOV WALKING AS PLAYERS TRAINING AKINFEEV WARMING UP TEAM MEMBER KICKING BALL TOWARDS AKINFEEV VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP CHERCHESOV AND AKINFEEV ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE AND TAKING SEATS MEDIA CHERCHESOV AND AKINFEEV AT NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIA NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM MANAGER, STANISLAV CHERCHESOV, SAYING: "If we talk about the physical condition (of team players), I think it is at quite a good level. It is shown through work and observations which we conduct every day." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIA NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM MANAGER, STANISLAV CHERCHESOV, SAYING: "The fact that before the Confederations Cup we had been talking to each other for an entire month is the psychological aspect.....That month gave us a lot, we felt certain peculiarities. The Confederations Cup moved us to another mental level. We discussed that. We don't want to make a step back, but to start from that tournament and to make steps forward. We want and we believe that it is within our scope of abilities." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIA NATIONAL SOCCER GOALKEEPER, IGOR AKINFEEV, SAYING: "You know, unlike other people I don't live in the past. Therefore, the question is closed and I think ahead of the upcoming match it is just silly to answer it." PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIA NATIONAL SOCCER GOALKEEPER, IGOR AKINFEEV, SAYING: "We have a rough idea how they (South Korea national soccer team) play, what they can do. Personally I think this is a good-level team and it is always difficult to play against such teams because they are so hard-working. And it is necessary to put double or even triple efforts to win playing against such teams. Although again I say that such friendly games perhaps are not in the same line with some official or the most important matches, but believe me tomorrow's game will be quite good and spectacular." MEDIA NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 20th October 2017 18:00
- Keywords: Russia national soccer team Russia soccer Russia soccer South Korea
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00171WDGE7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Russia are set to gauge their strength in a friendly against South Korea in Moscow on Saturday (October 7), a first international test for the World Cup hosts since they were knocked out of the Confederations Cup on home soil.
The hosts of next year's World Cup have not had the opportunity to face Europe's best teams in qualifying and are now trying to make up for the lack of serious competition.
Russia's performance at the Confederations Cup - a two-week tournament that served as a rehearsal for the World Cup - raised concerns that they could suffer another embarrassment at the 2018 tournament.
Poor goalkeeping and squandered chances proved costly but manager Stanislav Cherchesov believes his team have learned from their mistakes.
The most notable addition to the Russian side for the friendly against South Korea is Zenit St Petersburg striker Alexander Kokorin.
He had not been called up to the national team for nearly a year because of his poor form and involvement in several controversies off the pitch.
But the 26-year-old has had a stellar start this season, scoring eight goals in 12 matches to help his club to the top of the Russian Premier League standings.
South Korea will be making their ninth straight World Cup appearance in Russia having finished second in their Asian qualifying group.
Russia and South Korea last met at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, drawing 1-1. Both teams exited the tournament at the group stage without winning a match.
Russia play a friendly against Iran in Kazan on Oct. 10.
The World Cup finals run from June 14 to July 15 in 12 venues spread across 11 cities including Moscow, St Petersburg and Sochi. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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