• Abramovich Chelsea revolution continues
• Lokomotiv steams on in Europe
• Russia reach Euro-2004 finals

While all soccer fans are well aware of the spending power of Russian oligarchs and, in particular, Roman Abramovich, it is not just Russian moneymen whose stock is rising in the international soccer market. The Russian – and to an extent Ukrainian – club sides are beginning to attract foreign players and to make a stronger imprint on UEFA competition. The national side eventually crossed the finishing line of their Euro-2004 qualifying group with a gutsy finale against Wales.

Of course, Russian players have appeared in the English Premiership for many years now – names such as Kanchelskis, Kharine making their mark and, north of the border Sergei Baltacha (whose daughter is now carrying the torch for British women’s tennis). While Ukrainian Oleg Luzhny (‘The Moose’) held his own in Arsenal’s back four in recent years. It must be said that his compatriot Sergei Rebrov, for whatever reason (and many would blame Glenn Hoddle’s lack of managerial nous for failing to harness his style of play to the more mundane midfield and slow-witted attack at Spurs), did not exactly set White Hart Lane alight and justify the record fee paid to Dynamo Kiev for his services.

The English and Scottish games certainly put far more emphasis on speed, fitness and brawn, with less attention to retaining possession and finding unusual angles of attack. After all, if the game is played at 100 mph then the ball will come back to your side sooner rather than later, the British logic appears to run.

Russian and Ukrainian players are generally schooled in a slower more intricate way of playing. The Russian Premier Liga, as a spectacle, may not literally have the ‘rush’ of the Premiership, being more akin to chess than the British game which could be more likened to draughts on acid. British commentators seem to take the more laid back passing game of the Russian and Ukrainian teams and indirect style in its two-dimensional TV value, failing to grasp the main dimension – ultimately that skill will out. Most TV pundits were quick to write off Russia following their home leg draw against Wales.

Manchester United will always lose the odd game against a team like Fulham, but nobody would back them to do it twice in a row. And, so, did Russia’s class come through against Wales. To the unbiased observer, the Russian team was always the better side at retaining possession and passing, for all the Red-blooded dragon-like threat of the fiery John Hartson and Co. How many times at international level do we see the predominantly the long ball game of England and Scotland come undone at the highest level. No surprise if you play week in week out against a flat back four in your domestic league and then suddenly a continental sweeper appears to scupper all those Andy Cole-like dashes through the middle (not to mention the need for six good chances to convert one goal). Give me a lazy Muller, a majestic Mutu, the mesmerism of Zidane or the trickery of Zola to unlock a defence any time. While the days of English international ‘quality’ strikers such as Jeff Astle, Paul Mariner, Malcolm MacDonald and Peter With may be long gone, are Emile Heskey or James Beattie anything other than the same old breed of hustle and bustle? No wonder Sven Goran Erikson is hesitating over his contract extension! Of course, there is talent, Matthew Le Tissier would have waltzed into most continental international sides. At least with Erikson in charge, Rooney has been elevated straight away without having to serve a good old English apprenticeship for five years.

Maybe the Russian and Ukrainian internationals do lack something in the spirit, heart and strength department - certainly compared to the well-drilled disciples of those international (?) soccer gurus such as Howard Wilkinson or George Graham – but a brighter future of football would surely involved a marriage between the style, skill and panache of the likes of the Italian, French and Spanish and – dare I add - Russian, and the physical toughness and lion-hearted commitment of the British game.
Don’t get me wrong: Russians and Ukrainians, just like audiences worldwide, adore the British game, and it is not just the UK media who thinks it is the most exciting league in the world. However, while foreigners give our game the praise and complements it deserves, can the same be said of British pundits? Maybe the British football supporter, in this sense, is a step ahead of its own national media and the bland array of punditry (mostly players from the 70s with a seventies ethos of the boot room and a dozen or so clichés to be wheeled out instead of real incisive debate).

So we now have Lokomotiv Moscow making a decent mark in the Champions League. At time of writing they had just gone to the top of their mini league (which includes the mighty Arsenal) with a 3-2 win over rivals Dynamo Kiev. Most of Lokomotiv’s players are Russians, moreover, unlike the Gunners or Manchester United, where very few Englishmen now ply their trade.

Traditionally, a lack of mechanisms, money and political will to bring in foreigners to what was, let’s face it, a corrupt environment unfathomable to most foreigners, kept the Russian game for the Russians. Maybe the irony is that this ‘hothouse’ protection has helped bring through a hungry new generation of players eager to strut the international stage, but having retained the traditional qualities of the Russian and Ukrainian schools of football.

Lobanovsky’s Soviet team of the 70s and his two Dynamo Kiev teams (‘75 and ‘85) certainly put down a marker to what these coaching school could achieve
So, maybe the Russian game has a rosy future.
Rio Ferdinand was recently invited to Russia by Samara’s directors and the owner, Tkachenko, a rich man who has been rumoured to be capable of launching a big bid in England a la Abramovich.

Lokomotiv Moscow now boasts a new state of the art stadium and the club has leap-frogged the traditional big guns of Russian football Spartak, in terms of both recent success and now, financial muscle. CSKA, the new champions, are progressing well under Valery Gazziev the former national coach and the Russian Premier League is well into its stride under the guidance of St. Petersburg Zenit’s president Mr. Mutko.

As for Ukraine, they also have an Arsenal – the number two side in Kiev - now vying for top spot with neighbours Dynamo and Donetsk from the East. Metallurg and Dnipro are also clubs taking small but significant steps in UEFA competitions.

Abramovich’s idea of buying players with the possibility of leasing them to Russian clubs for a year is a good one, albeit predictably derided in the British media. It is a media that is very slow to react traditionally and, no doubt, still trying to come to terms with what has been a revolution in its own back yard.

Russian oligarch saves West London club from threat of bankruptcy and pumps in over £150 million as a hobby. Who would have thought it?

Paul Colston