ATP Finals

Russia put faith in domestic players for home World Cup

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 03 June 2018

Russia name a largely domestic-based squad for the World Cup this summer, with just two of their 23 players playing outside of the tournament's host nation.

Russia have named a largely domestic-based squad for their home World Cup this summer.

All but two of the hosts' 23-man contingent play in the Federation, with Villarreal winger Denis Cheryshev and goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov of Club Brugge the exceptions.

Former Chelsea winger Yuri Zhirkov is in Stanislav Cherchesov's squad, while Artem Dzyuba, Alan Dzagoev, Igor Akinfeev and Sergei Ignashevich are other high-profile inclusions.

Naturalized German defenders Roman Neustadter and Konstantin Rausch failed to make the cut from a provisional 28-man list while striker Alexander Kokorin is out injured, but Brazil-born right-back Mario Fernandes is included.

Aleksey Miranchuk and Anton Miranchuk, meanwhile, will be the first twins to play at a World Cup since Philip Degen and David Degen of Switzerland at Germany 2006.

Sbornaya play Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the tournament on June 14, before facing Egypt and Uruguay in Group A.

Russia's 23-man World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Club Brugge), Andrey Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg).

Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fedor Kudryashov (both Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Akhmat Grozny), Sergei Ignashevich, Mario Fernandes (both CSKA Moscow), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg).

Midfielders: Yuri Gazinskiy (Krasnodar), Alexsandr Golovin, Alan Dzagoev (both CSKA Moscow), Aleksandr Erokhin, Yuri Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (all Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin, Alexsandr Samedov (both Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal).

Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Aleksey Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fedor Smolov (Krasnodar).