Russian U-21 team currently plays unstable and hasn’t yet established itself as one of youth football leading teams. Many of the players don’t have enough practice in their clubs, which negatively influences the team’s potential. Recently they lost to Faroe Islands U-21 team (0:1).

Coaching staff

Igor Kolyvanov is Russian U-21 team head coach. Before U-21 team he has worked with national U-17 team, winning 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and Russian U-19 team.

Kolyvanov knows his players perfectly well, having worked with them in U-17 and U-19 teams.

Players

Yevgeny Pomazan, goalkeeper, CSKA (Moscow). Pomazan has played just one game for senior CSKA team.

Georgi Schennikov, defender, CSKA. In 2008 Georgi Schennikov made his first appearance for senior CSKA team and his first international appearance for the club. Schennikov plays as a left full-back.

Pavel Mamaev, midfielder, CSKA. In the current season Mamaev became CSKA regular, he was recently called up to the national squad.

Aleksei Ionov, midfielder, Zenit (Saint Petersburg). Ionov made his first appearance for Zenit in 2007, since that he has not advanced into Zenit’s starting 11.

Aleksandr Prudnikov, forward, Terek (Grozny). Prudnikov was loaned to the Chechen club by Spartak (Moscow).

U-19 team

Russian U-19 team recently has lost to Holland and drawn with Slovenia and Belarus in the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualifying games and as a result – failed to qualify.

Coaching Staff

Andrei Talalayev has been working with various youth teams since 1999, he has also worked in Spartak (Moscow) coaching staff.

Players

Evgeni Gapon, defender, FC Khimki. Khimki are struggling to avoid relegation and has limited financial opportunities. Therefore Gapon has enough opportunities to collect valuable Russian Premier-League experience.

Gapon is the only U-19 player having regular Russian Premier League practice. Though there are many talented players in the team, such as Basel Abdulfattakh (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Nikita Chicherin (Dynamo Moscow) and others, their abilities are unclear.