MX23RW : Friday, November 8 21:04:57| >> :600:13130842:13130842:

Preview: Group A - Russia vs. Czech Republic

Preview: Group A - Russia vs. Czech Republic
© PA Photos
Russia will hope to extend their unbeaten run to 15 games when they go head to head with the Czech Republic in the second Group A clash of Euro 2012.

Russia and Czech Republic will complete the opening day of Euro 2012 with a head-to-head fixture at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw this evening.

Russia will be hoping that they can take their 14-game unbeaten run into the clash in Poland, while the Czech Republic continue to sweat on the fitness of striker Milan Baros.

The former Liverpool frontman has been struggling with injury ahead of his side's opening Group A game and was forced to sit out of training yesterday on medical advice.

Despite worries of injury, the 30-year-old has a good chance of making Michal Bilek's final starting XI alongside Arsenal midfielder and Czech captain Tomas Rosicky.

Meanwhile, Russia manager Dick Advocaat has injury concerns of his own as goalkeeper Igo Akinfeev remains a doubt due to a recurring knee problem, which the 26-year-old has been forced to endure for much of the season with CSKA Moscow. The shot-stopper is expected to have a late fitness test today but Vyacheslav Malafeev is available to fill in for the keeper.

Arsenal's Andrey Arshavin will be hoping to cause a threat alongside Alan Dzagoev and Aleksandr Kerzhakov in what is expected to be a 4-3-3 formation. However, if Baros is declared fit for the Czechs, the Galatasaray forward is fully capable of causing problems for the opposition's defence.

The Czech Republic only narrowly qualified for the group phase of the European Championships, which will make the team that much more determined to get a result this evening.

Current form:

Russia: WDWDDW
Czech Republic: WWWDWL

Possible lineups:

Russia: Akinfeev; Anyukov, Igna'vich, Berezutskiy, Zhirkov; Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov; Dzagoev, Kerzhakov, Arshavin

Czech Republic: Cech; Selassie, Sivok, Kadlec, Rajtoral; Plasil, Jiracek; Rezek, Rosicky, Pilar; Baros

Sports Mole says: 2-1

ID:30180: cacheID:30180:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3171:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dick Advocaat
Read Next:
Advocaat: "It is all about the result"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!