Played
September 7, 2012 4:00 PM BST
Stadion Lokomotiv — Moskva
Referee: Antonio Mateu
Attendance: 12000
September 7, 2012 4:00 PM BST
Stadion Lokomotiv — Moskva
Referee: Antonio Mateu
Attendance: 12000
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| Russia | 1.20 | 1.00 | 1.20 | 1.04 | 1.18 | 1.01 | 1.19 | 1.18 |
| Draw | 6.50 | 51.00 | 6.50 | 13.00 | 6.00 | 13.00 | 6.70 | 6.55 |
| Northern Ireland | 13.00 | 81.00 | 13.00 | 81.00 | 16.00 | 60.00 | 16.00 | 15.52 |
Russia - Northern Ireland Preview: O'Neill faces tough start against Capello's men
The two sides face each other in a competitive international for the first time as they both kick-off their World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign in Moscow with the hosts favourites
By Nicholas McGee
Sportsfile
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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RUSSIA  Akinfeev Anyukov, Ignashevich, V.B'skiy, A.B'skiy Glushakov, Denisov, Bystrov, Dzagoev, Bilyaletdinov, Kerzhakov |
NORTHERN IRELAND
 Carroll Hughes, McAuley, Evans, McGivern Norwood, Davis, Baird, Brunt Lafferty, Shiels |
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill goes into his first competitive international with three of his squad unavailable through injury. Newcastle left-back Shane Ferguson (groin), Martin Paterson (hamstring) both miss out, while Celtic midfielder Paddy McCourt (groin) looks set to miss the trip to Moscow and Tuesday's clash with Luxembourg.
Russia manager Fabio Capello has made a number of changes ahead of the contest, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrey Arshavin have both been left out, as has Reading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak. Yuri Zhirkov and Sergei Semak were both omitted due to injuries.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Northern Ireland and Russia have never faced each other in a competitive international.
- Northern Ireland have only ever qualified for the finals of a World Cup on two occasions, in 1982 and again in 1986.
- Billy Bingham's men advanced to the second group stage in '82 before being knocked out. However, they could not repeat the feat in Mexico four years later as they fell at the first hurdle.
- Since that point Northern Ireland have never finished higher than fourth in a World Cup qualification group.
- Fabio Capello (pictured right) takes charge of his first competitive game as Russia boss on Friday and takes over from Dick Advocaat.
- The Russians have only qualified twice for the World Cup since the fall of the Soviet Union, in 1994 and in 2002. On both occasions they were eliminated in the group stage.
- Following the omission of Arshavin, every player in the Russian squad now plies their trade in the Russian Premier League.
- Russia striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov has not scored a competitive goal for his country since October 2010.
- Russia have lost just four of their last 20 competitive internationals.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Russia 8-0 Northern Ireland
- 17.59 %
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Russia 3-0 Northern Ireland
- 15.74 %
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Russia 2-0 Northern Ireland
- 10.19 %
| World Cup Qualification 2014 (Europe) (WCQE) | 7 Sep 2012 | Russia 2 - Northern Ireland 0 |
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Russia
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| 25 Mar 2013 | Brazil 1 - Russia 1 | FR |
| 6 Feb 2013 | Iceland 0 - Russia 2 | FR |
| 14 Nov 2012 | Russia 2 - USA 2 | FR |
| 16 Oct 2012 | Russia 1 - Azerbaijan 0 | WCQE |
| 12 Oct 2012 | Russia 1 - Portugal 0 | WCQE |
Northern Ireland
  |
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| 26 Mar 2013 | Northern Ireland 0 - Israel 2 | WCQE |
| 6 Feb 2013 | Malta 0 - Northern Ireland 0 | FR |
| 14 Nov 2012 | Northern Ireland 1 - Azerbaijan 1 | WCQE |
| 16 Oct 2012 | Portugal 1 - Northern Ireland 1 | WCQE |
| 11 Sep 2012 | Northern Ireland 1 - Luxembourg 1 | WCQE |
| Returns: | Russia £12.00 |
|
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets | |
| Returns: | Draw £510.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 | |
| Returns: | Northern Ireland £810.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
| 1 | Igor Akinfeev | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Alexander Anyukov | Defender |
| 4 | Sergey Ignashevich | Defender |
| 3 | Vasiliy Berezutskiy | Defender |
| 17 | Alan Dzagoev | Midfielder |
| 7 | Igor Denisov | Midfielder |
| 6 | Roman Shirokov | Midfielder |
| 17 | Vladimir Bystrov | Midfielder |
| - | Viktor Faizulin | Midfielder |
| 15 | Dmitriy Kombarov | Midfielder |
| 11 | Aleksandr Kerzhakov | Striker |
| 13 | Anton Shunin | Goalkeeper |
| 12 | Vladimir Gabulov | Goalkeeper |
| 12 | Alexey Berezutskiy | Defender |
| - | Georgi Shennikov | Defender |
| - | Taras Burlak | Defender |
| - | Andrey Eschenko | Defender |
| 22 | Denis Glushakov | Midfielder |
| - | Alexander Samedov | Midfielder |
| - | Diniyar Bilyaletdinov | |
| - | Konstantin Zyryanov | |
| - | Magomed Ozdoev | Midfielder |
| 18 | Aleksandr Kokorin | Striker |
| 25 | Roy Carroll | Goalkeeper |
| 18 | Aaron Hughes | Defender |
| - | Chris Baird | |
| 3 | Craig Cathcart | Defender |
| 22 | Gareth McAuley | Defender |
| - | Jonny Evans | Defender |
| 11 | Chris Brunt | Midfielder |
| 8 | Corry Evans | Midfielder |
| 6 | Steven Davis | Midfielder |
| - | Jamie Ward | |
| 14 | Kyle Lafferty | Striker |
| 12 | Alan Mannus | Goalkeeper |
| - | Lee Camp | |
| - | Lee Hodson | Defender |
| 23 | Ryan McGivern | Defender |
| 14 | Oliver Norwood | Midfielder |
| 42 | Josh Carson | Midfielder |
| 4 | Sammy Clingan | Midfielder |
| - | Andrew Little | |
| - | William Grigg | Striker |
| - | Dean Shiels |
| Alan Dzagoev | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 17 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The one positive aspect of Russia's group stage exit at Euro 2012 was the form of Alan Dzagoev. The Zenit St Petersburg man enjoyed a superb tournament, netting three goals in three games.
The impetus will be on Dzagoev to deliver again for his country as they try to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 2002. The 22-year-old Dzagoev has six goals in his last six competitive internationals, and visitors Northern Ireland will have to stop the attacking midfielder if they are to have any chance of picking up a good result in Moscow.
The impetus will be on Dzagoev to deliver again for his country as they try to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 2002. The 22-year-old Dzagoev has six goals in his last six competitive internationals, and visitors Northern Ireland will have to stop the attacking midfielder if they are to have any chance of picking up a good result in Moscow.
| Chris Brunt | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 11 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
The West Brom midfielder is often a key man for the West Midlands' club and has produced a number of match-winning displays for the Baggies in recent years.
Brunt will be hoping to re-produce his club form for Northern Ireland, as they attempt to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 26 years. The 27-year-old has scored just one goal in 36 appearances for his country, but his attacking prowess and creative presence could prove vital if the visitors are to pull off a surprise result.
Many will expect Michael O'Neill's men to have to defend from the outset, however the travelling fans will look to the likes of Brunt, and first-choice striker Kyle Lafferty to deliver and make their first competitive trip to Russia a successful one.
Brunt will be hoping to re-produce his club form for Northern Ireland, as they attempt to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 26 years. The 27-year-old has scored just one goal in 36 appearances for his country, but his attacking prowess and creative presence could prove vital if the visitors are to pull off a surprise result.
Many will expect Michael O'Neill's men to have to defend from the outset, however the travelling fans will look to the likes of Brunt, and first-choice striker Kyle Lafferty to deliver and make their first competitive trip to Russia a successful one.
Russia are without doubt, the overwhelming favourites, and in front of a home crowd they will be expected to cruise to victory. However, Northern Ireland are a side blessed with an abundance of resiliency and spirit, and they will look to make life difficult for Capello's men. Alan Dzagoev is Russia's main goalscoring threat, and if O'Neill's side can frustrate him then they should have a good chance of taking a point from a very difficult away trip.
Results
Times In BST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Edin Dzeko Striker Manchester City |
7 | 0 |
|
Tomer Hemed Striker Mallorca |
6 | 0 |
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Mesut Özil Midfielder Real Madrid |
5 | 2 |
|
Wayne Rooney Striker Manchester United |
5 | 1 |
|
Robin van Persie Striker Manchester United |
5 | 1 |
