Russia's Akinfeev has knee problem: Advocaat

Warsaw - Russia’s traditional first-choice goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is suffering complications from a knee injury, coach Dick Advocaat said Tuesday.

Akinfeev’s injury makes Zenit St Petersburg’s Vyacheslav Malafeev a more likely starter against the Czech Republic, Friday.

With both healthy, there was very little to choose between the two goalkeepers, but the CSKA Moscow man, who spent most of the 2011-12 season sidelined with the cruiciate ligament injury, is now training on his own.

“Akinfeev has a few problems, liquid has built up in his left knee that he had the operation on,” Advocaat said. “Of course we won’t risk the health of the player,” he said.

Akinfeev sustained the injury in a clash with Spartak Moscow striker Welliton in August, recovering only for the last few matches of the season.

Malafeev, 33, and Akinfeev, 26, shared goalkeeping duties for Russia’s three warm-up games against Uruguay, Lithuania and Italy.

Russia also play co-host Poland and Greece in the group stage of the tournament.

–IANS/RIA Novosti

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