Andy Potts


Progress in Russia often seems to be a case of one step forward and two steps back – so fans of the nation’s football teams are hoping that last week’s double-dose of Gaelic grief proves to be this season’s obligatory cumbersome lurch into reverse.

If Dinamo Moscow’s Champions League exit was disappointing rather than unexpected, Krylia Sovetov’s shock Europa League loss to Irish minnows St Pat’s raised new questions about the real strength of the Russian game.

This year’s Euro survivors include some unfamiliar names: Spartak sit it out after last year’s struggles, while big-spending Lokomotiv seem more Manchester City than Real Madrid.

Instead Rubin Kazan and CSKA Moscow await the Champions League group phase, while little-known Amkar Perm join Dinamo and Zenit St. Petersburg in next week’s Europa League play-off.

Zenit should be the best bet to challenge for honours this season, with their 2008 triumph still fresh in many minds. But Dick Advocaat’s departure has cast a pall over the northern capital, and his relationship with the club became frosty as he struggled to reinvest the Andrei Arshavin transfer fee.

His dismissal recently, following a dismal 2-0 defeat to Siberian strugglers came as little surprise. The coach’s future had been under intense speculation after he announced he wouldn’t be extended his contract beside the Neva, and would instead take over the reins at the Belgian national side in December.

Arshavin has been followed out of the club by skipper Anatoly Tymoshchuk and striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, while influential playmaker Danny is a long-term injury loss.

Their weakened squad has been inconsistent in the league, and a very public clash between goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev and midfielder Roman Shirokov has done little to inspire confidence for the rest of the season.

In a burst of playground petulance, Shirokov claimed he could have saved a late goal in a 2-2 draw with struggling Saturn, leaving a wounded Malafeyev to dub his team-mate "an utter s**t".

If they can overcome Portuguese side Nacional and then navigate a path through the group stages, they will be contenders in the spring once they’ve regrouped under a new leader. But at the moment it looks like a big "if".

Dinamo were close to a Champions League shock after winning at Celtic Park, but their over-cautious approach in the return leg cost them dear.

Andrei Kobelev’s young side relies heavily on Alexander Kerzhakov – they have yet to win a game without him this season – and the coach admitted they lacked quality and experience after losing to the Scots.

Home-grown talent like the Kombarov twins, Dmitry and Kirill, Parkhead hero Alexander Kokorin and tidy midfielder Viktor Svezhov have potential to burn – but it will take them time to realise it consistently.

But they will fancy their chances against CSKA Sofia, especially after the Bulgarians struggled to overcome Derry City in the previous round, and are likely to make awkward opponents in the group phase.

Realistically, though, making it to the knock-out round next year would be a huge achievement for a side still learning its trade.

Amkar, who face Fulham, pulled off a big shock by finishing fourth last season. The northern Ural city, a two-hour flight from the capital, had previously only been noted as the model for the town Chekhov’s "Three Sisters" were so desperate to leave.

But without ever really impressing, coach Miodrag Bozevic emulated Euro 2004 winner Otto Rehhagel and fashioned a side which was tough to watch but tougher to beat.

That relative success earned him a move to FK Moskva where the turbulent rein of Oleg Blokhin had ended in mid-table.

And in his absence Amkar have failed to repeat last season’s form. They are still notoriously goal-shy, but have lost their defensive solidity under former Bulgarian national team coach Dimitar Dimitrov.

They will hope to frustrate Fulham – especially at Craven Cottage – and rely on the pace of Nikolai Zhilyaev to fashion a decisive opening in a tight tie, but it’s hard to see the Premier League side slipping up here.

At the top table, CSKA and Rubin await the draw for the groups with interest.

On paper CSKA would appear to be the best bet to progress further: plenty of Euro experience, a trophy-winning pedigree and only one big out-going transfer from a squad coached by none other than Zico.

And it’s true that goalscorer Vagner Love, skilful midfielder Milos Krasic and keeper Igor Akinfeyev – a man with the potential to be Europe’s best for a decade to come – will make this side a threat.

But the loss of Yury Zhirkov is a big one, robbing the team of width and drive. Moreover, the decision to push Alan Dzagoev into that role has yet to bear fruit.

A recent run of one win in six domestic games – including a cup humbling at second-tier Ural Yekaterinburg – led to reports that Zico has just five games to save his job.

And the financial problems that have stalled their proposed new stadium could mean little of the Zhirkov cash finds its way back on to the playing field.

Which leaves last year’s champions Rubin, currently a point ahead of resurgent Spartak as they scoff at claims 2008 was a flash in the pan.

At this level they’re a totally unknown quantity: recent Euro pedigree involves a brief UEFA Cup campaign in 2006 and an Intertoto Cup exit to Rapid Vienna the following year.

But they’ve proved they can compete with the top sides in Russia and should be capable of a good Europa League run after getting a third-placed finish in their group.

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