Sytchev selected for Japan tour

Russia have named an 18-man squad for their tour of Japan, where they will play the Japanese Olympic side on 11 February and Shimizu S-Pulse on 14 February.

Sytchev included
Georgi Yartsev's squad contains no foreign-based talent, while players from FC Lokomotiv Moskva, who are preparing for a UEFA Champions League tie against AS Monaco FC, and FC Spartak Moskva, who will play RCD Mallorca in the UEFA Cup, have been excused. PFC CSKA Moskva did not agree to the release of their players. New Lokomotiv signing Dmitri Sytchev is included, though, as he is ineligible for European football.

Late claim
The party features a number of new names who are trying to stake a late claim for a place in Russia's UEFA EURO 2004™ squad, including midfield duo Denis Boyarintsev of FC Rubin Kazan and FC Zenit St. Peterburg's Vladimir Bystrov. FC Rostov striker Roman Adamov is another newcomer. Viktor Onopko is the only capped defender who will travel. 

RFU gesture
Meanwhile, the Russian Football Union has announced that part of the revenue from the friendlies in Japan will be donated to the families of the victims of today's subway bombing in Moscow. "What happened today is terrible. We're all influenced by this tragedy," said RFU director general Aleksandr Tukmanov.

Russia squad
Malafeev, Kozko, Onopko, Mor, Olenikov, Mogilevski, Sharonov, Vasilyev, Rogochiy, Arshavin, Radimov, Bystrov, Karyaka, Esipov, Boyarintsev, Sytchev, Bulykin, Kerzhakov, Adamov.