Irish team use dirty tactics, say Russians

RUSSIA goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin set the tone for Saturday's European Championship home qualifier against Ireland yesterday when he accused Mick McCarthy's side of using "dirty tactics".

"They are a dirty team," Nigmatullin, who played against Ireland in a friendly last February, told Russian reporters at his team's training camp outside Moscow. "They try to hit you in the back, hit you from behind, use their elbows, all that stuff, so we have to be careful," he said.

Alexei Smertin, who will lead his team against Ireland in the group 10 opener in the absence of injured captain Yegor Titov, was equally wary of Ireland's tactics despite not playing in the 2-0 defeat in Dublin.

"I know that players on many teams in the West are specifically instructed to use their elbows and aim for the head when they go for high balls," the Girondins Bordeaux midfielder warned. "In France, for instance, it's a common practice."

But Spain-based Dmitry Khokhlov had a different view. "Irish a dirty team?" the Real Sociedad midfielder said when asked about Nigmatullin's remarks.

"No, I don't think so. Yes, they are tough, emotional and often try to run you over, but I wouldn't call them dirty."

Russia coach Valery Gazzayev said he had warned his players against underestimating their opponents.

"The Irish don't have superstars on their team, but we all know they have plenty of other qualities like toughness, character and their fighting spirit is second to none," the coach said. "We regard them as a very serious opponent, one of our main contenders in the group."

Aside from Irish determination, Gazzayev has plenty of worries on the injury front. The Russians, already without injured midfielder Marat Izmailov and his Lokomotiv Moscow team mate, striker Ruslan Pimenov, in addition to Spartak playmaker Titov, lost two other key players yesterday.

Defender Vyacheslav Dayev is ruled out with an ankle injury, while his CSKA Moscow team mate, striker Denis Popov, pulled a thigh muscle.

"Both Dayev and Popov got injured during the (CSKA's) match against Torpedo on Sunday," said Gazzayev, who also coaches the army side CSKA. The Russians are also missing Spartak striker Dmitry Sychyov, who walked out of his club two weeks ago after a contractual dispute.

Russia's best World Cup player is ruled out because "he is not mentally fit to play on such a high level".