Advocaat includes Nababkin in final Russia squad

Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2012 by UEFA.com

Russia coach Dick Advocaat has included uncapped defender Kirill Nababkin in his 23-man squad for UEFA EURO 2012, while Magomed Ozdoev and Artem Dzyuba failed to make the cut.

Advocaat includes Nababkin in final Russia squad
Kirill Nababkin was a surprise inclusion in Russia's final squad

After preparations for UEFA EURO 2012 began with a 1-1 draw with Uruguay, Russia coach Dick Advocaat announced his final 23-man squad for the tournament, which included uncapped PFC CSKA Moskva defender Kirill Nababkin.

While the 25-year-old has impressed at right-back in this season's UEFA Champions League, his only international experience has come at Under-21 level. Advocaat has also compensated for the withdrawal of senior defender Vasili Berezutski by calling up 35-year-old Roman Sharonov, although the FC Rubin Kazan captain has not appeared for his country since September 2004.

"We analysed the situation with right-backs in Russia and decided Nababkin was the best choice," said Advocaat, who will take charge of PSV Eindhoven following next month's finals. "Though I have to say we did not have much of a choice. I have seen many of Kirill's matches for CSKA and took this decision two days ago. He has played many European games and has the necessary experience."

Russia start their EURO campaign on 8 June against Czech Republic in Wroclaw before facing Poland and Greece in Warsaw. Prior to the tournament they will play three friendly matches, against Uruguay (25 May, Moscow), Lithuania (29 May, Nyon) and Italy (1 June, Zurich).

Russia Squad

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vyacheslav Malafeev (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Anton Shunin (FC Dinamo Moskva).

Defenders: Aleksandr Anyukov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksei Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Sergei Ignashevich (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vladimir Granat (FC Dinamo Moskva), Yuri Zhirkov (FC Anzhi Makhachkala), Dmitri Kombarov (FC Spartak Moskva), Roman Sharonov (FC Rubin Kazan), Kirill Nababkin (PFC CSKA Moskva).

Midfielders: Igor Denisov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyryanov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Denis Glushakov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Igor Semshov (FC Dinamo Moskva), Marat Izmailov (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Alan Dzagoev (PFC CSKA Moskva).

Forwards: Andrey Arshavin (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Aleksandr Kokorin (FC Dinamo Moskva), Roman Pavlyuchenko (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham FC).