Russian team played two competitive games, facing Azerbaijan and Lichtenstein. Russia gained two shaggy victories, scoring just 3 goals against the weakest opponents in the group. But the most important thing is that Russia collected 6 points and still occupies second place in the group. The football season in Russia has just started, before facing Azerbaijan some of the national team players have hardly played 90 minutes of competitive games in 2009.

The 2009 have already brought a couple of changes into the team.

Maroon kit

Adidas replaced Nike as Russian national football team sponsor, the new contract is reportedly 12 times more profitable for the Russian side. The Russian Football Union will get 100 million dollars from Adidas as well as 5% of sales profits. Adidas used to equip several Soviet football squads, the new agreement with Russia will last until 2018.

On the 25th of march Adidas revealed the new kit. Traditionally Russia played in red, white and blue. The new kit is very different, Russia’s new home colors are maroon and golden, the away colors are traditional, white and red. Adidas managers argue that the new home colors remind of the Red wall, built from maroon brick.

Many supporters grumble over the new kit, claiming that maroon has nothing to do with Soviet or Russian traditions. Others hope that maroon will make Russian team more recognizable, pointing that a number of teams use red as a main home color.

Defensive midfielder

In both games Igor Denisov (24 years old) was used as a defensive midfielder.

Under Hiddink Russian team usually played without a clear defensive midfielder. Sergei Semak, Igor Semshov and Konstantin Zyryanov, the players who adopted this position in various games, all prefer to play in an attacking style.

Igor Denisov is not a sophisticated defensive midfielder, but both Dick Advocaat (Zenit Saint Petersburg) and Guus Hiddink are trying to use him this way. In Zenit Denisov might replace Anatoliy Tymoschuk, if Tymoschuk moves to Bayern Munich this summer.

Denisov refused to join Russian national squad for Euro 2008. Reportedly, he found it humiliating not being included in the preliminary national squad list, which was revealed on May the 14th. Hiddink decided to include Denisov in the preliminary list on the 15th of May, the day after Zenit lifted UEFA Cup.

Alan Dzagoev is a young russian player from CSKA (Moscow), plays as an attacking midfielder.

Dzagoev was born in Beslan, North Ossetia June 17, 1990. He and his brother were inspired to play football by their mother.

Dzagoev started his professional career in 2006, in 2007 he joined CSKA. Alan Dzagoev was awarded the Best young player of the year by Russian Premier League in 2008.

Dzagoev admires Evgeni Aldonin (Russia, CSKA) and Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea).

Andrei Arshavin

Andrei Arshavin is Russia’s main football star, he’s a key player both for national team and FC Zenit (Saint Petersburg). Arshavin can play as a forward, second striker, attacking midfielder and winger, he’s best known for his close control and vision.

Arshavin has been playing for Zenit since 2000, he made his debut in a 3-0 win over Bradford City in the Intertoto Cup. In 2007 Arshavin guided his club to the Russian Premier League title. In 2008 Arshavin also won UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup with Zenit.

Arshavin is a degreed designer, he studied in Saint Petersburg state technology and design university.

Andrei Arshavin has a wife Yula and two kids, Artem and Yana.

Despite his status both in the club and national team Arshavin rarely talks to reporters and media, though he’s got official web-site arshavin.eu.

In October 2008, Arshavin was nominated for the “Ballon d’Or” award.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is Lokomotiv (Moscow) captain, occupies midfielder playing position.

His father Rinat Bilyaletdinov also was a football player, in 1993-1995 Bilyaletdinovs lived in Czech Republic, while Rinat Bilyaletdinov was playing for local UNEKS.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov started playing for Lokomotiv senior team in 2004 and scored his first goal in his first Russian Premier League game.

In 2004 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov scored the “golden goal” which allowed Lokomotiv to beat Shinnik and win Russian Premier League.

Dmitri Torbinski

Dmitri Torbinski is a decent young player from Lokomotiv (Moscow), he was born in Norilsk (Russia), a city where snow covers earth 9 months a year, so until 12 years old Torbinski played futsal.

Torbinski is a midfielder, but can also play as a winger both left and right.

In 2002 Torbinski made his first appearance for Spartak (Moscow) both in Russian Premier League and in Champions League.

March 24, 2007 he played his first game for Russian national team. In Euro 2008 game against Netherlands he scored the winning goal.

Igor Akinfeev

Igor Akinfeev is vital player for Russian football team. He broke into professional football at the age of 17 when he helped CSKA to gain a win in a clash with “Krylia Sovetov” on 31 May 2003, since that game he became a first-choice goalkeeper for his club.

With CSKA Akinfeev won a number of trophies: UEFA Cup, Russian Super Cup (3 times), Russian Cup (3 times), Russian Premier League (3 times).

At the age of 22 Akinfeev was chosen to be CSKA club captain. 6 January 2008 Akinfeev prolongated his contract with CSKA until 2011.

Akinfeev is often compared to famous Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin.

Igor Semshov

Igor Semshov is a Dynamo (Moscow) midfielder. He’s been recently linked with a move to Zenit (Saint Petersburg).

Semshov is best known for his passing skills.

Konstantin Zyryanov

Konstantin Zyryanov is a Zenit (Saint Petersburg) and Russian national team midfielder. He made his senior debut in 1994 with Amkar (Perm). In the beginning of his career he was a striker, but currently Zyryanov is playing as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder and central midfielder.

In 2007 Konstantin Zyryanov was named the “Best Russian Player”, though before moving to Zenit he’s never been considered as a big player.

Zyryanov experienced a personal tragedy in 2002 when his wife Olga committed suicide, jumping out of the window together with their 4-year old daughter Irina.

In 2008 Konstantin and his wife Natalia gave birth to a boy named Lev (“lev” goes for “lion” in Russian).

Pavel Pogrebnyak

Pavel Pogrebnyak is a Russian forward, plays for Zenit (Saint Petersburg).

As a kid Pogrebnyak wanted to be a tennis player, but his parent couldn’t afford paying for tennis courses, so Pogrebnyak joined Spartak (Moscow) football academy.

Pogrebnyak wasn’t much valued by Sprtak coaches, so he played for 3 Russian clubs as a loaned player and ultimately joined Tom (Tomsk) in 2006. Same year he was sold to Zenit (Saint Petersburg), where he became a key player.

With Zenit Pavel Pogrebnyak won a number of trophies: UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Russian Super Cup, Russian Premier League. In UEFA Cup 2006/07 campaign he became the best goal scorer.

Pogrebnyak is often called “The Great Po” by his Zenit teammates.

Roman Pavlyuchenko

Roman Pavlyuchenko is a center forward of Tottenham Hotspur and Russian national team.

Pavlyuchenko made his first team debut in 1999 for Dynamo (Stavropol), in 2000 he became Rotor (Volgograd) player. In 2003 Pavlyuchenko moved to Spartak (Moscow), gradually he became a key player for “People’s Team”.

On 1 september 2008 Pavlyuchenko was signed by Tottenham, where he received the #9 shirt. With a reported fee of £14 million Pavlyuchenko’s transfer became the most expensive for a Russian player.

Roman Pavlyuchenko is widely recognized in Russia for scoring both goals in the 2–1 victory over England in a crucial Euro 2008 qualification match.

Sergei Ignashevich

Sergei Ignashevich is Russian national team key central defender. Ignashevich plays for CSKA (Moscow), for his club Ignashevich sometimes plays as a right full-back.

Sergei Ignashevich joined CSKA in 2003 and since 2004 became a vital player for CSKA.

With CSKA Ignashevich won a bunch of trophies: UEFA Cup, Russian Super Cup (4 times), Russian Cup (2 times), Russian Premier League (3 times).

Since 2001 Ignashevich is regularly recognized one of the Russian Premier League best players.

Sergei Semak

Sergei Semak captains Russian national football team and FC Rubin (Kazan), the current Russian Premier League Champion. Semak usually occupies central midfielder playing position.

Semak was born in a Ukrainian village Sychanskoy, he has 4 brothers, 2 of them are professional football players. Semak moved to Russia in 1992.

For 11 years Semak played in CSKA (Moscow), he was the club’s captain. However in 2005 he moved to Paris Saint-Germain where he spent one unremarkable season.

Semak is the only player who won Russian Premier League as a captain of several teams.

Vyacheslav Malafeev

Vyacheslav Malafeev is a Russian goalkeeper. Malafeev currently plays for FC Zenit (Saint Petersburg) and Russian national team. He is a first-choice goalkeeper in the club and a substitute goalkeeper in Russian national team.

Malafeev career in professional football started back in 1997, when he became a player of FC Zenit 2 in Russian Second Division. His first game for Zenit was played on July the 7th in 1999 against Russian side Alania. In 2003 Malafeev was recognized “The Best Goalkeeper of the Year” in Russian Premier League.

Malafeev made his international debut on 19 November 2003 in a Euro 2004 qualification play-off against Wales.

In a Euro 2008 qualification match between Russia and Macedonia Malafeev saved a penalty after substituting goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov.

Vyacheslav Malafeev has a wife named Marina and two children named Ksenia and Maxim.

His hobby is collecting steel arms.

Yuriy Zhirkov

Yuriy Zhirkov is considered to be the best Russian left attacking midfielder, yet in Russian national team he’s been recently used as a left full-back. Zhirkov is a first-choice left midfielder for CSKA since 2004.

Despite playing as a full-back for Russian team Zhirkov often gets involved into attack. In many cases he hits corners and free kicks.

In October 2008, Zhirkov was nominated for the “Ballon d’Or” award.