Photo: Konstantin Kutsylo
On Tuesday, television channels reported that tickets for the game were sold out. Only the most prestigious stands are offered at the box office. However, young people at a distance are ready to arrange tickets for any places. In short, if speculators do not become impudent, then a full house on Wednesday is provided.
On the eve of Guus Hiddink attended a hockey match of the championship of Russia. St. Petersburg army defeated the Omsk “Vanguard” - 5: 2. And at a press conference, the coach was immediately asked the question about hockey:
- So you came to the game, and the army team immediately won on their ice. And before that, they did not succeed. Maybe you should invite a hockey team coach to your match? - the correspondent clearly hinted that there was nothing more to hope for.
- Maybe the hockey coach will be put in my place? Hiddink muttered. - And then we will defeat the Estonians.
Gus was so gloomy for the first time. The clouds are gathering over him - just look up at the sky in St. Petersburg. However, for some reason everyone regarded his answer as a manifestation of a sense of humor. This is probably true. But we can already note one candidate for the replacement of Hiddink - Boris Mikhailov.
... While the coach puffed out before reporters (without saying anything interesting - A.Sh.), the players formed three groups and began to play in the “square”. Most rustled where Igor Korneev ruled (Saenko, Malafeev, Ignashevich, A. Berezutsky, Borodin, Zhirkov, Akinfeev). The coach considered touch loudly, wanting to set a record. The worst in the selection were Malafeev and Zhirkov. They missed about 13 assists.
Then Gus joined them.
“Give me the ball,” he politely asked Ignashevich. Armeec hit the coach with all the dope. Hiddink tried to substitute his leg, but nearly fell. And he looked reproachfully at Sergey.
“Slip, slip,” Alexei Berezutsky laughed out loud. Hiddink did not support the fun and outlined possible changes in the composition for sure. And then he began to play with everyone. I must say that he was not pressed too hard, otherwise the Dutchman would not have left the center of the “square”.
The second group was quieter. Titov, Smertin, Pogrebnyak, Semshov, V. Berezutsky, Aldonin, Pavlyuchenko and Kolodin considered the touch, but somehow not seriously. Once angry Eugene Aldonin. The captain, interrupting the pass, kicked the ball almost from the stands, into the Neva. But quickly calmed down. Yegor Titov still looks very sad. For two days, the Spartak never smiled.
And the most dull situation was where Sychev, Kerzhakov, Bystrov, Anyukov, Izmailov, Bilyaletdinov and Alexander Borodyuk played. By the way, the coach most often intercepted the ball - nevertheless, he completed his playing career recently. The players did not talk, there were no smiles either. And Sychev often looked at the sky.
Finally, Hiddink stopped the fun and sent the players into the corner of the field to warm up.
“They don’t have any mind at all,” suddenly one of the stadium workers grumbled. - They took the players to the site where they practiced yesterday. They will ruin everything there.
I wanted to answer: let them spoil anything, but they will win.
No one had any fun during the warm-up. Hiddink came too close and strictly watched the players.
“Let’s go, journalists,” the RFU representatives began to clean the stadium. - The team needs to work, focus, think.
That would be to find out what ...
Alexey Shevchenko