Footballers Neustadter, Shirokov join Russia’s Euro squad
Moscow, May 22 (IANS) German FC Schalke defensive midfielder Roman Neustadter and CSKA Moscow midfielder Roman Shirokov have been named in the Russian squad for the Euro football tournament.
The final list of 23 footballers, who were expected to be named for Euro 2016, the Russian Football Union (RFU) said in a statement posted on its official website on Saturday. On May 24, the Russian national team will be summoned in Moscow and then will head for Switzerland to train there, reports Tass.
Defenders Yury Zhirkov and Oleg Kuzmin will miss the tournment due to injuries.
“FC Rubin defender Oleg Kuzmin will be at the club’s disposal due to problems with the knee, where the decision about his further treatment and rehabilitation will be made. FC Zenit defender Yury Zhirkov has not been summoned to the national team due to the Achilles tendon tendonitis that has been bothering the footballer in recent weeks and poses a risk of complications,” the statement said.
The 2016 Euros will take place in France between June 10 and July 10. At the group stage Russia faces England (in Marseille on June 11) , Slovakia (in Lille on June 15) and Wales (in Toulouse on June 20).
Russia is to play two friendlies: against the Czech Republic on June 1 (Innsbruck, Austria) and against Serbia on June 5 (in Monaco).
The Russian squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (PFC CSKA Moscow), Yury Lodygin (FC Zenit St. Petersburg) and Guilherme Marinato (FC Lokomotiv Moscow).
Defensive midfielders: Aleksey and Vasili Berezutski, Sergey Ignashevich and Georgy Shchennikov (PFC CSKA Moscow), Igor Smolnikov (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Roman Neustadter (German FC Schalke), Dmitry Kombarov (FC Spartak Moscow), Roman Shishkin (FC Lokomotiv Moscow).
Attacking midfielders: Alan Dzagoev, Alexander Golovin and Roman Shirokov (PFC CSKA Moscow), Alexander Samedov (FC Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Glushakov (FC Spartak Moscow), Pavel Mamayev (FC Krasnodar), Oleg Ivanov (FC Terek Grozny), Igor Denisov (FC Dinamo Moscow) and Oleg Shatov (FC Zenit St. Petersburg).
Attackers: Artem Dzyuba and Alexander Kokorin (FC Zenit St. Petersburg) and Fedor Smolov (FC Krasnodar)