After reaching the semi-finals at Euro 2008, Russia have bowed out at the group stage in each of their previous two European Championships. What can Cherchesov’s side achieved this time around?
• Manager: Stanislav Cherchesov
• Current FIFA World Ranking: 38th
• Best European Championship finish: Semi-Finals (2008)
In charge since 2016, Cherchesov will be desperate to help Russia make a statement at Euro 2020. Let’s take a look at the 26-man Russia squad in full and assess how far they can go.
Goalkeepers: Yuri Dyupin (Rubin), Matvei Safonov (Krasnodar), Anton Shunin (Dinamo Moskva).
Defenders: Igor Diveev (CSKA Moskva), Georgi Dzhikiya (Spartak Moskva), Mario Fernandes (CSKA Moskva), Vyacheslav Karavaev (Zenit), Fedor Kudryashov (Antalyaspor), Andrei Semenov (Akhmat).
Midfielders: Dmitri Barinov (Lokomotiv Moskva), Denis Cheryshev (Valencia), Daniil Fomin (Dinamo Moskva), Aleksandr Golovin (Monaco), Daler Kuzyaev (Zenit), Andrei Mostovoy (Zenit), Maksim Mukhin (CSKA Moskva), Magomed Ozdoev (Zenit), Rifat Zhemaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moskva), Yuri Zhirkov (Zenit), Roman Zobnin (Spartak Moskva).
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Zenit), Aleksei Ionov (Krasnodar), Denis Makarov (Rubin), Aleksei Miranchuk (Atalanta), Aleksandr Sobolev (Spartak Moskva), Anton Zabolotny (CSKA Moskva).
Russia could barely have dreamed of a tougher opponent to begin their Euro 2020 campaign. On June 12, Cherchesov’s men come up against Belgium.
Four days later, Russia face Finland in St Petersburg on June 16, before completing their group-stage games against Denmark on June 21.
Aleksandr Golovin: The highly-rated attacking midfielder racked up five goals and nine assists in Ligue 1 last season as Monaco finished third – just four points behind second-place PSG.
Golovin also has five goals in 37 international appearances and looks set to play a pivotal role in Russia’s bid to get out of Group B.
Of course, Belgium are expected to clinch top spot in Group B. But if Russia can avoid poor results against Finland and Denmark, they should be able to reach the last 16.
Getting to the quarter-finals could be a step too far for Cherchesov’s men. However, reaching the knockout phase will probably be viewed as a success.