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Advocaat forced into Russian reshuffle
Posted Saturday, May 26, 2012 by ESPNSTAR.com

Advocaat forced into Russian reshuffle

Russia coach Dick Advocaat was forced into a last-minute reshuffle before finalising his 23-man squad for Euro 2012.

Recent injuries to defenders Roman Shishkin and Vasiliy Berezutskiy have prompted Advocaat to turn to CSKA Moscow right-back Kirill Nababkin, with Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Magomed Ozdoyev and Spartak Moscow striker Artem Dzyuba making way.

Advocaat had been expected to release just one player as he trimmed his 24-man selection, but Ozdoyev and Dzyuba have been the unfortunate victims of the defensive problems that have triggered Nababkin's late call.

Only on Thursday Advocaat ruled out calling up a replacement player, but he told reporters on Friday: "The reason I've called up an extra defender is that if something happens to Alexander Anyukov we will have a back-up on the right side in defence."

Advocaat's finalised squad was announced after Russia played out a 1-1 draw with Uruguay in the first of their warm-up matches ahead of Euro 2012.

Further friendlies against Latvia and Italy follow before Russia commence their Group A campaign against Greece, the Czech Republic and co-hosts Poland.

Russia squad for Euro 2012:

Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Malafeev (Zenit St Petersburg), Shunin (Dinamo Moscow); Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Berezutski (CSKA Moscow), Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Granat (Dinamo Moscow), Zhirkov (Anzhi Makhachkala), Sharonov (Rubin Kazan), Nababkin (CSKA Moscow); Denisov (Zenit St Petersburg), Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Glushakov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Semshov (Dinamo Moscow), Kombarov (Spartak Moscow); Arshavin (Arsenal), Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Pavlyuchenko (Lokomotiv Moscow), Pogrebnyak (Fulham), Dzagoev (CSKA Moscow), Izmailov, (Sporting), Kokorin (Dinamo Moscow).

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia