How Russia played with potential rivals in the fight for access to the World Cup :: Football :: RBC Sport
The Russian national team finished the qualifying stage for the World Cup in second place and will play in the play-offs. The opponents will be determined on November 26, and the games themselves will be held in March 2022. About the opponents of the Russian national team – in the material “RBC Sport”
Photo: RFS
New in the play-off scheme
From this qualification to the world championship, the selection through the joints passes according to a new system. 12 teams are divided into three grids. Each of them hosts a mini-tournament – in the format of the playoffs from the semifinals. The winners of the confrontation based on the results of one match. The semi-finals will take place on March 24, 2022, and the finals on March 29.
The play-off stage is crossed by three winners who join the other ten teams that have already advanced to Qatar. In total, there will be 13 teams from the European continent at the world championship.
The Russian national team was among the seeded, so that the opening match of the play-off round will be held at home. In the semifinals, Valery Karpin’s team will definitely not play with other seeded ones – Portugal, Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Wales, as well as with Ukraine, from which they will be divorced during the draw.
Russia’s path to the play-offs
Despite the fact that the qualification began only in March this year. Loss of Slovakia, failure at the European Championship, resignation of head coach Stanislav Cherchesov, joining the national team of Valery Karpin, five wins and a draw in qualification. To go directly to Qatar, the Russian national team had only not to lose the last match in Croatia, but they did not cope with the team. As a result – the second place and play-offs for reaching the World Cup.
Statistics of the Russian national team in the qualifying tournament
Number of meetings held – 10
Scored goals – 19
Average Hits Per Game – 11.2
Ball possession – 47.5%
The success rate is 77.5%.
Bookmakers estimate Russia’s chances of reaching the final of the World Cup with a coefficient of 4.00. This is the best indicator among the rivals of the Russian national team in the first play-off match.
Turkey
The team led by Stefan Kunz achieved second place in the group. According to RBC Sport sources, the RFU negotiated with Kunets about working in the Russian national team after the resignation of Stanislav Cherchesov, but eventually settled on the candidacy of Valery Karpin. The national team plays 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1. The Russian national team has played with Turkey eight times, and over the past five years – six times. Only one match ended with a victory for Turkey, three with a draw, and four with a victory for Russia.
The Turkish national team in Group G finished second with 21 points. The first place in the group was taken by the Dutch under the leadership of Louis van Gaal.
The Turks failed the European Championship, becoming one of the worst teams in terms of both game and result. Under the new coach, the national team began to play stably, but draws with Montenegro and Latvia, as well as the defeat from the Netherlands, did not give it access to the 2022 World Cup directly.
Turkey national team statistics
Games – 10
Scored goals – 27
Average Hits Per Game – 16.6
Ball possession – 57.1%
Success rate – 83.9%
For the Russian national team, Turkey can be called a good rival, the chances of passing it are quite high. The coefficient for the exit of the team of Stefan Kunz at the World Cup is 6.00.
Austria
A solid mid-range team, consisting mainly of Bundesliga players. The main characters are Marcel Zabitzer from Bayern Munich and 32-year-old Marko Arnautovic (Bologna). Six years ago, it was the match with the Austrians that became the last for Fabio Capello as the coach of the Russian team. Austria performed well in the European Championship, bringing the match against Italy in extra time. Thanks to the Nations League, the team advanced to the play-offs, despite finishing fourth in the group.
Austria national team statistics
Games – 10
Scored goals – 19
Average number of strokes per game – 16.4
Ball possession – 62.0%
Success rate – 83.7%
Bookmakers rate Austria’s odds at 6.00.
North Macedonia
There was no sensation – after a good start, the Armenian national team was unable to impose a struggle on rivals and advance to the play-offs. As a result, the second place was taken by the national team of North Macedonia. This team is the weakest of those who play in the play-offs. There are only two players in the line-up – Goran Pandev and Elif Elmas. Pandev is the national team’s record holder in matches played (122 games) and its top scorer in history (38), played in Lazio, Inter, Napoli. For the past six years, he has been a Genoa forward, coached by Andriy Shevchenko. Elmas now plays for Napoli, took part in 59 meetings and scored three goals. Two of them – at the gates of the Moscow “Spartak”.
North Macedonia national team statistics
Games – 10
Scored goals – 23
Average Hits Per Game – 14.8
Ball possession – 54.5%
The percentage of successful transmissions is 84.2%.
Bookmakers estimate Macedonia’s chances of going to Qatar with odds of 10.00. This is the highest coefficient among all participating teams.
Czech
The participants of the European Championship quarterfinals reached the Euro through the League of Nations. The strengths of the Czechs are the three midfielders (Souchek – Barak – Masopust), striker Patrick Schick. Sometimes a Spartak player, who is on loan at the English West Ham, Alex Kral, appears in the squad. The team got into the reduced group with five participants, finishing third in the final standings.
The Russian national team met with the Czech Republic 4 times. The first time – at the European Championship in 2012 with a score of 4: 1, the second – as part of a friendly match (5: 1).
Czech national team statistics
Games – 8
Scored goals – 14
Average number of strokes per game – 15.4
Ball possession – 56.1%
Success rate – 80.7%
The coefficient for the exit of the Czech Republic to Qatar is 5.00. Together with Poland, the Czechs look the most formidable and inconvenient rivals for the Russian national team in the first play-off match.
Poland
Russia drew a friendly match with the Polish national team in June this year before the European Championship. However, one cannot take into account the nature of the meeting and the absence of the main star of the Polish team – Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski. In addition to one of the best forwards in the world, the Russian fan is probably familiar with such players as Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Chesnykh, Krasnodar midfielder Grzegorz Kryhoyak and Lokomotiv defender Maciej Rybus. From the Polish clip, you can also play Marseille striker Arek Milik and Benevento defender Kamil Glik. Basically, the national team plays in a 3-1-4-2 pattern.
Poland national team statistics
Games – 10
Scored goals – 30
Average number of strokes per game – 15
Ball possession – 62.7%
The success rate is 84.3%.
The Polish team is an extremely uncomfortable opponent for our team. The team has a balanced line-up in all lines. The coefficient for the exit of Poland is 5.00.