CSKA pair strengthen Russia

World Cup failure
Coach Andrei Chernyshov did not hesitate in calling up the goalkeeper and winger after Russia's senior team failed to make the play-offs for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In addition to the PFC CSKA Moskva duo, Vladimir Bystrov of FC Spartak Moskva and FC Lokomotiv Moskva's Diniyar Bilyaletdinov are also included.

Early impression
FC Rubin Kazan pair Lenar Gilmullin and Aleksandr Bukharov receive their first calls despite making only three appearances each in the Russian top flight; Bukharov has already scored against CSKA and FC Krylya Sovetov Samara. Third-choice goalkeeper Artem Rebrov is the third newcomer while eight players are on stand-by in the event of late withdrawals.

Russia squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vladimir Gabulov (PFC CSKA Moskva), Artem Rebrov (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast).

Defenders: Andrei Eshchenko (FC Khimki), Ruslan Nakhushev (FC Khimki), Sergei Chernogaev (FC Shinnik Yaroslavl), Ildar Akhmetzyanov (FC Amkar Perm), Kirill Nababkin (FC Moskva), Ivan Taranov (PFC CSKA Moskva), Lenar Gilmullin (FC Rubin Kazan).

Midfielders: Aleksandr Pavlenko (FC Spartak Moskva), Igor Denisov (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Renat Sabitov (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast), Yuri Zhirkov (PFC CSKA Moskva), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Aleksandr Sheshukov (FC Luch-Energia Vladivostok), Aleksandr Samedov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Vladimir Bystrov (FC Spartak Moskva).

Forwards: Ivan Saenko (1. FC Nürnberg), Aleksandr Bukharov (FC Rubin Kazan), Igor Lebedenko (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Sergei Samodin (PFC CSKA Moskva), Nikita Bazhenov (FC Spartak Moskva).