Russia: Pavel Pogrebnyak Back in the Game!
June 4, 2008 – 5:33 am | by admin
After scaring both mates and fans that he might not play at EURO 2008 because of injury, Pavel Pogrebnyak was confirmed by Russia’s national football team’s coach to eventually play at EURO 2008.
Pavel Pogrebnyak raised concerns after he picked up an injury during his team 2-1 friendly against Serbia last Wednesday. He started to complain of pain at one of his knees and he was sent to Munich for scans. At that moment it was thought that Pogrebnyak might miss EURO 2008 because of the injury, which had appeared to be more severe that initially thought.
However, Russia’s national football team’s coach Guus Hiddink said that FC Zenit St. Petersburg’s player is currently working with his physiotherapist.
“We will not push him to the limit for one match. Even if he is out of the Spain match, he is not going anywhere. I am not going to call anyone as cover for him,” coach Guus Hiddink also said.
Hiddink’s team are preparing for the finals in the final stages of a pre-tournament training camp in Germany, being scheduled to play a last friendly against Lithuania in Burghausen on Wednesday. “We are having our concluding training session in Germany today before we leave for [our Austrian training base at] Leogang after the Lithuania match,” said coach Guus Hiddink, who added also: “I am very happy with the players’ mentality.”
Russia will face Spain, Greece and Sweden in Group D. Player Andrei Arshavin, Pavel Pogrebnyak’s FC Zenit St. Petersburg team-mate, will be suspended for the first two games of the tournament.
However, Pavel Pogrebnyak is optimistic. “All our group rivals are placed higher than us in the world rankings, so to compete with them we need to work with even greater intensity,” Pogrenyak said. “I can guarantee that Russia will give their best on the pitch,” he also added.
“We have been watching the Spanish side just like they have been watching us. I believe we should stick to our own style regardless of how Spain play. I hope that on the morning of 11 June the whole of Spain will know this Russia team by name because of our great performance,” coach Hiddink said.
Tags: Euro 2008 News, Guus Hiddink, injury, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Russia
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