Two newcomers in Advocaat’s Russia squad

RUSSIA coach Dick Advocaat has included two newcomers for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers with the Republic of Ireland and Macedonia.

Spartak Moscow defender Sergey Parshivlyuk and CSKA midfielder Pavel Mamayev will be capped for their country for the first time. Zenit striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov makes his return to the squad after a two-match ban following a red card in last year’s World Cup playoffs against Slovenia.

Dutchman Advocaat’s team has had a poor start to its Euro 2012 campaign, grabbing just three points from their opening two games against Andorra and Slovakia.