SOCCER:A 2-0 WIN in Andorra was "a good start" for Dick Advocaat but he knows his side "will need to play better" to overcome Slovakia in his first competitive home fixture as Russia coach (Moscow, 4pm).
Russia’s first home outing in Group B brings them up against Slovakia and both teams will be looking to take maximum points after recording a pair of draws on the road to the 2006 World Cup.
Russia welcome Yuri Zhirkov back from suspension as they look to build on a 2-0 victory over Andorra last Friday, in which Pavel Pogrebnyak scored twice. “We made a good start with a victory, but we will need to play better against Slovakia,” warned Advocaat. “I think we are capable of qualifying.”
Having taken three points against the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia thanks to Filip Hološko’s added-time goal, Slovakia are hoping for at least a draw against Russia. Coach Vladimír Weiss said: “I will make some squad changes, but we cannot just come to defend. And of course, that first win in Bratislava will help us to be mentally stronger.”
Stanislav Šesták and Tomáš Oravec are injured, while Jakub Sylvestr is on duty with the under-21s.
