Krikunov led Dynamo-Moscow to win the national cup last season-even in an initial year of his work with the renowned club. He headed the Belarussian team at the 2002 Olympics, and it was success, though that was his Olympic debut. With all that, hopes for the World Cup in games taking start in Austria next week appear no mere castles in Spain.
Beaten more than once, Swedes know Krikunov as "evil spirit". I don't think he owns his triumphs to sheer good luck. Unlike previous Russian team coaches, he accomplished what no one had managed before-with record-breaking quickness, he made players picked from nine clubs a well-knit team. To all appearances, he alone knows how to reassure them. Things were worse this time than last year, with NHL stars playing for Russia. Few have joined in now, but the team spirit the coach had instilled did the thing! Even Ilya Kovalchuk the lone wolf took pride in the team success, and was playing down his own achievements.
Of no smaller importance, Krikunov chose to put his own club into the background. He never flinched from appointing Maxim Sokolov goalkeeper for the finals-that after Maxim spent half a season in the Omsk Avant-garde reserve. The coach made his unexpected choice though he had Dynamo's steeled Alexander Yeremenko. More than that, Krikunov said, even before the team left for Austria, that Sokolov would make the best possible goalie.
An epidemic of injuries that came at the worst possible time did not put out the brave coach, in the slightest. He is appointing efficient substitutes from among athletes he wisely summoned for training sessions well beforehand. All that allows hope Russians will not have to pick their necessary 23 players on a last-instant emergency arrangement, as was the case several previous years.
The team is departing for the world games tomorrow. A friendly meet is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, in Slovenia. April 30 will be a maiden World Cup meet with the host team.
The undaunted Krikunov certainly anticipates Russian appearance in the finals, due in Vienna, May 15.
