RUSSIA 4-1 CZECH REPUBLIC
HT: 2-0
Dzagoev (15)
Shirokov (42)
Pilar (52)
Dzagoev (79)
Pavlyuchenko (82)
PERFECT FINISH: Roman Shirokov celebrates scoring Russia’s second against the Czechs (Photo: Getty Images)
An evisceration of a committed but utterly outfoxed Czech Republic was as bold an opening move as this competition is likely to see. Never mind Russia’s coach Dick Advocaat’s searing understatement – “for a first game I was quite happy” – the tournament dark horses have just got a whole lot lighter.
The astonishing thing was the figure at the heart of the Russian brilliance. A player largely derided during his time in north London suddenly appeared, in the red of his national jersey, to be a world beater. Andrei Arshavin: someone in the Premier League really ought to put in a bid pronto.
Stationed on the left of a three-man forward line, the Russian skipper showed the kind of innovative, sharp-minded and – yes – industrious form thought beyond him by Arsenal fans.
With his every contribution cheered to the echo by the huge red following filling the Municipal Stadium’s steepling stands, he strolled through the game unleashing an alluring repertoire of back-heels and chips.
His pass for Roman Shirokov to run on to and stab home Russia’s second goal – a delicate elevated wedge shot over a bamboozled Czech backline – is unlikely to be bettered by anyone other than Andres Iniesta.
By that time, Russia were already in the mood to take complete control. One up after Alan Dzagoev rocketed home the rebound when Aleksandr Kerzhakov’s stooping header had hit a marooned Petr Cech’s post, they were quicker to the ball, more productive in possession, more imaginative in their movement than their opponents.
Making better use of a pitch slicked up by a biblical downpour before the game (the photographers fringing the pitch in their plastic ponchos, looked as if they had just come straight from covering the Jubilee river pageant) the Russian midfield spun the ball around with venomous purpose.
Not that the Czechs entirely lacked backbone. After what must have been a frank half-time discussion with coach Michael Bilek, they came back within six minutes of the restart when Jaroslav Plasil’s precise pass split the red rearguard and Vaclav Pilar, just staying onside, rounded Vyacheslav Malafeev to score. But it was of little consequence.
Russia soon prevailed. Dzagoev scored a scorching third from substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko’s shrewd pass, before the ex-Spurs man joined the party with a superb fourth.
Not that Advocaat appeared entirely satisfied with the evening’s performance.
“I think we should have scored more, we had a lot of chances, we’ll have to get better at that,” he said.
http://fulltimescores.wordpress.com (Main Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football)
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