Diary / Jonathan Wilson / 21 June 2008 / Leave a comment

Russia supplied just two of the first XI in the Euro 88 final, there are a few more than that in Jonathan Wilson's fantasy Soviet Union first team

Another shortened night (thank you so much for going on so long, Turkey and Croatia), another vague memory that once there was a time when six hours sleep in the same night didn't seem an impossible indulgence. Maybe it will all be different once I get to Vienna. If nothing else, there might not be any eastern European teams left for me to write about.

Still, while I've still got the chance, a musing on Russia. I've written a number of articles in the aftermath of the Sweden game arguing that rather than being a new incarnation of the spirit of Total Football, Guus Hiddink's Russia is actually a continuation of the similar but distinct Soviet tradition of Valeriy Lobanovskyi.

Which set me thinking about the Euro 88 final and how many Russians actually played in that Soviet side that lost 2-0 to Holland.

The answer is one more than I'd suspected, but still low: two. The USSR's starting line-up that day in Munich read: Dasaev, Khidiatulin, Demyanenko, Lytovchenko, Aleinikov, Zavarov, Gotsmanov, Mykhailychenko, Rats; Protasov, Belanov. Of them the goalkeeper, Rinat Dasaev and the defender Vagiz Khidiatulin were Russian - both Tatars; while Sergei Gotsmanov and Sergei Aleinikov were both Belarusians. The other seven were Ukrainian.

Which got me thinking. Ukraine have, until now, been the most successful of the former Soviet republics, but if you were picking a composite Soviet side now, the majority of the side would be Russian.

So, for what it's worth, here's my XI should the USSR suddenly reform overnight.

The goalkeeper is easy. Russia's Igor Akinfeev is only 22, and missed most of last season with a knee injury, but the CSKA keeper's quality is undoubted. From his mid-teens he was spoken of as a proud follower of the tradition of Lev Yashin, and despite the pressure he has shown every sign of being able to live up to that billing.

Given this Russia's success with attacking full-backs, it seems sensible to stick with the present incumbents. Alexander Anyukov was a key part of Zenit St Petersburg's Uefa Cup success - particularly in the quarter-final when they won 4-1 at Bayer Leverkusen - bombing forward on the right. On the left, Yuri Zhirkov is naturally a winger but, while his defensive qualities are questionable, he is thrived from the deeper role in this tournament.

There is less reason for confidence in Russia's central defence. AC Milan's left-footed Georgian Kakha Kaladze is an obvious choice, a physical presence who is also comfortable on the ball. His central defensive partner is trickier, but sticking with Hiddink's policy of giving youth it's head, I've gone for the Ukrainian Dmytro Chyhrynskyi, who at 21 is already a commanding presence in Shakhtar Donetsk's back four.

Holding at the back of the midfield is the platform who gives Zenit's forwards such licence, the imposing Ukrainian Anatoliy Tymoschuk, a hard-tackling engine capable of a wide range of passing. As he is at Zenit I would have him partnered by Konstantin Zyryanov, an experienced head who has recovered from personal tragedy to become one of the most intelligent users of a ball in Europe. He has recently added goals to his repertoire as well, as he proved in scoring Russia's winner against Greece in the group stage.

To the right I've gone for Arsenal's Belarusian winger Alexander Hleb, another fine technician. If he frustrates by trying constantly to thread passes through the eye of the needle, he can probably be forgiven for how often he succeeds. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, the only Tatar in the present Russian side and a fine crosser of the ball, gets the nod on the left.

Andrei Arshavin is an automatic choice in the playmaking berth behind a central striker. Even a year ago Andriy Shevchenko would have been sure of that role, and his form for Ukraine is still good, but taking his Chelsea travails into consideration and questioning whether his declining physical qualities making him suitable for a role in which he may have to spend a lot of time with his back to goal, I've selected Pavel Pogrebnyak. The Zenit forward has missed this tournament with a knee injury, but offers both muscularity and sharp finishing.

Akinfeev (RUS), CSKA Moscow

Anyukov (RUS), Zenit
Chyhrynskyi (UKR), Shakhtar
Kaladze (GEO), AC Milan
Zhirkov (RUS), CSKA Moscow

Tymoschuk (UKR), Zenit
Zyryanov (RUS), Zenit

Hleb (BLR), Arsenal
Arshavin (RUS), Zenit
Bilyaletdinov (RUS), Lokomotiv Moscow

Pogrebnyak (RUS), Zenit

Tags: Alexander Anyukov, Alexander Hleb, Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Andrei Arshavin, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Dmytro Chyhrynskyi, Euro 88, Igor Akinfeev, Kakha Kaladze, Konstantin Zyryanov, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Rinat Dasaev, Russia, Ukraine, Vagiz Khidiatulin, Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Yuri Zhirkov