Russia host Andorra amid contrasting ambitions
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
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Russia will look to complete their Group B campaign with a home victory against an Andorra side who are still searching for their first qualifying points in the UEFA European Championship.
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Russia will look to seal their place at UEFA EURO 2012 when they finish their Group B campaign at home against the section's bottom side, Andorra. The visitors' ambitions are rather more rudimentary as they continue their quest for their first point in UEFA European Championship qualifying after 39 defeats.
• Russia won 2-0 in Andorra in their opening Group B game on 3 September last year. Pavel Pogrebnyak broke the deadlock after 14 minutes after being fed by captain Andrey Arshavin, and added a second from the spot with 64 minutes played.
• Russia's record in five meetings with Andorra reads W5 D0 L0 (W2 D0 L0 at home). Andorra have not scored in their last three games against Russia.
• Andorra went through the whole of UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying without picking up a point but came uncomfortably close to denying Russia a place in the finals when the two teams faced each other on 21 November 2007.
• With Croatia's shock 3-2 victory against England at Wembley meaning Russia had to win to reach the finals, David Rodrigo's side kept the visitors' nerves jangling. Dmitri Sychev put Guus Hiddink's charges in front after 38 minutes, but they were unable to increase their tally and, after Denis Kolodin missed a penalty, they lost Arshavin to a late red card.