Russia vs. Czech Republic

Russia and Czech Republic will immediately seek to stamp their authority on a weak looking Group A when the two teams meet in Wroclaw on Friday June 8.

Poland and Greece will get the highly anticipated Euro 2012 tournament underway in Warsaw just a couple of hours prior to this match and by the final whistle in Wroclaw there should be a firm indication as to which two nations are favoured to progress through to the last eight.

Dick Advocaat’s Russia are fairly prominent in the outright betting and it is easy to see why after such an impressive qualifying campaign.

And their preparations for the championship have continued in a positive fashion since, culminating in a recent 3-0 friendly victory over Italy in Switzerland.

Drawn in what easily appears to be the softest group, Russia look booked for a quarter-final spot and should make fairly light work of both Greece and Poland.

The Czech Republic will provide a stern opening test however and Michal Bilek’s men are also many people’s idea of potential quarter-finalists.

They qualified for the tournament via a play-off with Montenegro after being a clear second best to current holders Spain in the group phase. Nevertheless, the 1996 finalists managed to raise their game and were never in doubt of making the finals as they comfortably dispatched of Europe’s newest footballing nation.

Both Russia and the Czech Republic would have probably preferred to play each other last in the round robin fixtures and consequently, it may be a case of setting out to prevent defeat rather than pushing too adventurously for a win (the draw is a general 9/4 with most firms).

Neutral spectators and backers will be hoping that isn’t the case as there is some real attacking flair and talent within both squads – and it would be no surprise to witness a similar outcome to when the two sides last met in the competition back in England sixteen years ago.

That confrontation ended as a thrilling 3-3 draw with the Czech’s edging through to the last eight despite handing Russia their sole point of the tournament.

It is Russia who carry favouritism going into this particular contest and they are around 5/4 to get their eagerly awaited campaign up and running with three points.

On paper, the Russians arguably hold a little more quality within their ranks and in Aleksandr Kerzakhov they have a striker capable of troubling even the best defences on the continent.

Conditions and atmosphere in Poland/Ukraine should be right up Russia’s street throughout the tournament and a win over the Czech’s would really give them momentum for the latter stages.

Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin and Sporting Lisbon’s Marat Izmailov will be working hard to create chances in Russia’s midfield engine room and it could be the Czech centre backs that are given the biggest test over the ninety minutes.

Czech Republic are a decent counter attacking outfit and could bely their odds of 11/4 should things go their way – however their tendency to leave space in the midfield should only serve to feed Russia’s impressive looking forward line and it is Advocaat’s charges who seem most likely to bank an opening day success in Wroclaw.

Go To bet365

#Ad

04/06/2012     © Frixo 2025