Untried duo in provisional Russia squad

Posted Saturday, May 12, 2012 by UEFA.com

FC Dinamo Moskva defender Vladimir Granat and FC Lokomotiv Moskva midfielder Magomed Ozdoev, both uncapped, have been named in Russia's provisional 26-man EURO squad.

Dinamo defender Vladimir Granat (right) in Moscow derby action against CSKA

Russia coach Dick Advocaat has selected two uncapped players in his 26-man provisional squad for UEFA EURO 2012.

FC Dinamo Moskva's 24-year-old defender Vladimir Granat and FC Lokomotiv Moskva midfielder Magomed Ozdoev, 19, are the stand-out inclusions in a list which also features FC Spartak Moskva striker Artem Dzyuba, who won his only cap to date in a 1-1 draw against Greece last November.

With PFC CSKA Moskva defender Vasili Berezutski doubtful due to a thigh injury, Advocaat – who will take charge of PSV Eindhoven following next month's finals – has called up FC Rubin Kazan captain Roman Sharonov. The 35-year-old has not appeared for his country since September 2004, three months after playing in two group games at the UEFA European Championship in Portugal.

Another notable returnee is Marat Izmailov, who earned the last of his 31 caps in 2006. Hampered by injury in recent times, the midfielder has returned to form in the second half of the season for a Sporting Clube de Portugal team which reached the last four of the UEFA Europa League.

The squad will convene in Moscow on 20 May. Russia start their EURO campaign on 8 June against Czech Republic in Wroclaw before facing Poland and Greece in Warsaw. Prior to the tournament they will play three friendly matches: against Uruguay (25 May, Moscow), Lithuania (29 May, Nyon) and Italy (1 June, Zurich)

Russia provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vyacheslav Malafeev (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Anton Shunin (FC Dinamo Moskva).

Defenders: Aleksandr Anyukov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksei Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vasili Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Sergei Ignashevich (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vladimir Granat (FC Dinamo Moskva), Yuri Zhirkov (FC Anzhi Makhachkala), Dmitri Kombarov (FC Spartak Moskva), Roman Sharonov (FC Rubin Kazan), Roman Shishkin (FC Lokomotiv Moskva).

Midfielders: Igor Denisov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyryanov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Denis Glushakov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Magomed Ozdoev (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Igor Semshov (FC Dinamo Moskva), Marat Izmailov (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Alan Dzagoev (PFC CSKA Moskva).

Strikers: Andrey Arshavin (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Artem Dzyuba (FC Spartak Moskva), Aleksandr Kokorin (FC Dinamo Moskva), Roman Pavlyuchenko (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham FC).