US friendly will see debutants, says Capello

Krasnodar (Russia), Nov 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Wednesday’s friendly against the US will see several debuts in the Russia football team, coach Fabio Capello said Tuesday.

Capello’s 26-man squad has lost four experienced players to injury in recent days, opening the door for the likes of Real Madrid’s Denis Cheryshev and Anzhi striker Fyodor Smolov.

“Surely tomorrow, you’ll see players who have played less or didn’t play at all for the national team,” the Italian said.

“I’d like to watch some players who haven’t yet put on a national team jersey in the game, to check their value for the national team.”

The match may also see the debuts of FC Kuban’s keeper Alexander Belenov, Dynamo’s defender Vladimir Granat and Lokomotiv duo Magomed Ozdoev and Maxim Grigoryev.

Capello was also satisfied with the choice of the southern city of Krasnodar as the venue for the friendly.

“The local climate is much more favourable now than in Moscow or St. Petersburg,” said Capello.

Current daytime temperatures in Moscow are about four degrees Celsius, but in Krasnodar it is much warmer at 12 degrees.

“This choice is just also because there are two football clubs here and a lot of fans.”

Nearly 24,000 tickets had been sold for the game as of Monday.

—IANS/RIA Novosti

bs/mr

IANS 2012-11-13 16:34:08