Similar style and strengths. Preview of tactics for the match Scotland and Russia

Scotland
Scotland is a typical British team. Bet on vertical attacks and passes on the flank. The Scots feel great in the counter-attacking model of the game, when you can give the ball and fly out in quick attacks in free space.

A telling moment — in games with weaker opponents, the Scots also often give the ball. So it was at home with Cyprus in the last round of selection, in the League of Nations with Albania and Israel. Problems start if you have to play in a different style. As, for example, in the match against Kazakhstan, when the Scots were sensationally defeated 0: 3.

Kazakhstan then suddenly moved to the 5-3-2 scheme. The effectiveness of the defense was achieved through organized games on the selection (the record of the national team for at least the last two years number of rebounds), it’s easier to do in a 5-3-2. In that match, the Scots owned the ball 59% of the time, but simply did not know how to open such a defense. In fairness, the defeat was influenced by the abnormal implementation of Kazakhstan, and the artificial field.

If Scotland in the home match slightly lost possession of the ball even to Cyprus, it is clear that against Russia will play in an even more closed style. In the last 6 meetings, the Scots played the 4-3-3 scheme 4 times, but in the last match against Belgium they used 4-4-2 for the first time. In 4-4-2 it is easier to keep the compactness in defense, it is more suitable for vertical play. Most likely against Russia will be the same scheme.
September 4. Novogorsk. Nikolai Komlichenko (left) and Alexander Golovin in training for the Russian national team.
Scotland-Russia. Whose hearts are braver?
Russia
Russian team in recent years often played a 4-2-3-1 scheme or its hybrid with a 4-4-2. Also works well in fast attacks. Russia and Scotland are teams that have scored almost half of their goals in quick attacks or from ” standards.”

Cherchesov’s staff adjusts and uses tactics of the main clubs sending players to the national team. For example, earlier the team played a very similar model of the game to the model of “Zenit” 4-2-3-1 in possession and 4-4-2 without the ball. However, the role of Dzyuba was more limited, he spent much more time directly in the penalty area than when playing for Zenit.

Now the basic clubs for the national team (Spartak, Zenit, Lokomotiv) also work best in fast attacks, when there is space ahead. All three clubs have big problems with positional attack.

Judging by the list and the number of attackers, to the roster, Cherchesov still plans to play in attack with one pure striker (Dzyuba), that is, 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1 (not suitable for the specific composition) or 4-4-1-1. But, based on past matches, much more likely the first option.

The Russian team is preparing for the game with Scotland in Novogorsk.
Who will play Scotland. Version Of Rabiner
Thinking about the starting lineup Cherchesov…
In the previous matches in the group under attack Dzyuba played Anton Miranchuk — Golovin — Ions (Alexey miranchuk). Golovin with a high probability will appear again nominally in position ten. But the wingers may have changes, because now the team has Bakayev and returned after an injury Cheryshev.

Also good chances to come out in the start at Yerokhin, he is useful in the position of winger, when the opponent makes a lot of innings and diagonals on the far post. In the match against Germany, he was made an extreme right-back for this purpose. Yerokhin is disciplined, intense, reads the game well and fills the zones, plus is strong in the air. In addition, having the composition Erokhin, Circassian populations can be reconstructed at the scheme with three Central defenders. In this scenario, Kudryashov will be the left Central defender, and the left extreme — Yerokhin, who has experience as an extreme defender in the top five on both flanks.

In the holding area in cherchesova there were no new options with an eye on the starting lineup (Erokhin long consistently plays in center, in “Zenith” it is more often out on the wing). So, most likely, we will see a couple of supports Zobnin and Ozdoev. Similarly in Central defence, where he played Djikia and Semenov. In favor of the appearance of Semenov says the need to have at least one defender with a quality first pass.

On the flanks of the defense is also not expected to change. Mario Fernandez’s place in the start is not in doubt. On the left flank, Cherchesov has no choice but Kudryashov. Zhirkov can not stand the entire match and has a contraindication for the game against athletic, speedy teams such as Scotland.
September 5. Glasgow. The Russian team is preparing for The Euro 2020 qualifier against Scotland.
Scotland wants to make Russia forget about O’connor
…And the three Central defenders
The team’s transition to a scheme with three Central defenders is possible, but unlikely. With Belgium Cherchesov used the scheme 3-4-3 (in the pressure and attack)/5-4-1 (positional defense) and rebuilt her team during the match in Leipzig against Germany. Both applications have a defensive nature against Belgium — for pressing 1 to 1, against Germany for positional defense, where it was very bad. So far, these schemes are seen as plan B rather than basic introductory.

Final word
Cherchesov has collected another very serious portion of criticism for personnel decisions in Chalova, Neustadter and Djanaeva. On the eve of the match with the main competitor such personnel policy (at least on Chalov), on the one hand, raises questions. On the other hand, it serves as an important indicator that the national team has a specific target model of the game and the scheme. Be interesting.