The Russian football team should guard against complacency at Euro 2012 because their group is not as easy as it seems, former Russia international striker Dmitry Alenichev said Saturday.
Russia have been drawn against the Czech Republic, Greece and hosts Poland for the tournament in June.
“It only seems that the group with the Czechs, Greece and the Poles is that simple. Remember Euro 2004 when Greece beat Portugal in the final, yes, even with their opponents on home turf,” Alenichev said at the Legends Cup tournament in Moscow.
“Sometimes it’s easier to get past the favourites, a team like Spain, than a group of average teams.”
Russian stars Roman Pavlyuchenko and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who returned to Russia last month after struggling to cement first-team places in England, should not be complacent at their new clubs, Alenichev said.
“Of course it’s good for the national side if its footballers, who didn’t get playing time in England, have the chance to get it. But who said that they’re guaranteed it? They should fight for their place in the first team at their new clubs,” he said.
Alenichev, 39, retired in 2006 after a 16-year senior career including stints at Italian side Roma, Portuguese side Porto and Russia’s Spartak Moscow. He picked up 55 caps for Russia, scoring six goals.
