We are not the Euro favourites: Advocaat

WARSAW (AFP) –

Russia’s national football team coach Dick Advocaat speaks during a press conference at the Bristol hotel in Warsaw. Advocaat said on Tuesday he considered Spain, Netherlands and Germany to be the clear favourites for Euro-2012 adding he did not count Russia to be among them.

Russia coach Dick Advocaat said on Tuesday he considered Spain, Netherlands and Germany to be the clear favourites for Euro-2012 adding he did not count Russia to be among them.

“One friendly victory even if it was a thrashing of Italy (3-0 last Friday) doesn’t make us the Euro favourites,” the Dutchman told a press conference.

“We should remain realists, it was just a warm-up game.

“It’s good that we scored three goals against Italy to boost our team’s self-confidence but we still need to improve our defence to avoid serious problems in the group matches with the Czechs, Poland and Greece.”

Advocaat added that despite the optimistic forecasts some of his players still had injury concerns and will be working on their individual programmes in the upcoming days.

“Our ‘keeper Igor Akinfeyev still experiences some problems with his knee and will work individually with our physiotherapist,” said the 64-year-old Dutchman, who is stepping down after the finals to take over Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

“We will not risk his health as we still have some time before the matches. Speaking about Marat Izmailov and Alexander Anyukov I’d say they are not in serious doubt.”

Advocaat, who replaced compatriot Guus Hiddink at the helm in 2010 after Russia failed to reach the World Cup finals, added he remained optimistic ahead of the start of the tournament.

“The players who reached the semi-finals four years ago still form our team’s backbone,” he said.

“They have the experience of successful performances at the major events and it allows me to remain optimistic ahead of the start of the championship. We all have positive presentiments.

“Of course I am slightly tense ahead of the opening match.

“But it’s very important for the coach to keep it in his pocket and not to display it to the players. I hope I’ve succeeded in doing so.”