World Cup 2022: Can Slovakia Stop Russian March?

Russia vs Slovakia

Russia rediscovered its taste for football in 2018, as the nation hosted the World Cup and the Reds put in some scintillating performances to reach the last eight.

So their fans want some more of the same, and with Qatar 2022 coming into view their team is doing very nicely. Russia are currently second in European Qualifying Group H, on 13 points and behind Croatia on goal difference while their next opponents, Slovakia, are in third place and four points adrift.

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This World Cup 2022 qualifying fixture gives the hosts a great chance to put distance between them and the chasers, while keeping up with Croatia, but the Slovaks are no pushover and with plenty of quality in their team, they will fancy their chances of stopping Russia in their tracks.

The latest Russia vs Slovakia betting odds make the hosts favourites, but both teams come into the game on the back of a 2-0 win and all three results are well in play.

Talking Points

Karpin will go without Dzyuba

Following the sacking of head coach Stanislav Cherchesov in July, head coach Valeri Karpin has been keen to make his mark as Russia boss, and he certainly did that when he left all-time top scorer and captain Artem Dzyuba out of his first squad in September.

The 6ft 6in centre forward had just been left out of the Zenit St Petersburg team when Karpin ousted him from the international squad, not a universally popular decision with the fans who idolise the 33-year-old hitman.

Valeri Karpin is keen to make his mark as Russia manager in their World Cup 2022 qualifying clash with Slovakia — Valeri Karpin coaches Russia from the sidelines during 2022 Qatar World Cup European Qualifiers match against Cyprus

In fairness to the new boss, Dzyuba had a poor Euro 2020 as the Russians toiled, with his only goal coming in the 4-1 hammering at the hands of Denmark. Karpin thinks it’s time to look to the future, dropping Spartak Moscow star Aleksandr Sobolev at the same time. Whether Dzyuba will add to his 30 goals or 55 caps for Russia remains to be seen, but for now Karpin looks like he is sticking to his guns.

It might be difficult to replace Dzyuba’s goals; he has three so far in this tournament and defender Mario Fernandes is second-top scorer with two. A lot rests on the shoulders of Lokomotiv Moscow striker Fedor Smolov who has 15 goals from 41 international games, while the Reds’ best creative player is 25-year-old Atalanta midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk, who impressed at Euro 2020.

Slovakia are not far away

Despite taking a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain at Euro 2020, Slovakia are not known as an easy opponent. In fact, that debacle was something of a one-off’ they had already beaten Poland, and the big loss was sparked by a bizarre own goal from keeper Martin Dubravka which totally changed the game.

Only a late and brilliant strike from Marcelo Brozovic gave table-toppers Croatia a 0-1 victory over Slovakia last month, and Slovakia follow that up with a comfortable 2-0 win over Cyprus.

Head coach Stefan Tarkovic has some experienced operators in his side to complement his young squad. Centre-back Milan Skriniar has scored two goals so far in the competition. He was a mainstay in Inter Milan’s Scudetto winning team and I Nerazzurri have started this season strongly again. The depleted Russia attack will find it hard to get the better of Skriniar.

And with 26 goals in 132 games, 34-year-old captain and creative midfielder Marek Hamsik is still a top-quality player, still able to slice open a defence with a killer pass.

The visitors will miss winger Robert Mak who is a real livewire, though 21-year-old Fortuna Dusseldorf striker Robert Bozenik has bags of potential, already scoring five international goals, and I expect to see him impress in the Russia vs Slovakia highlights.

History

Russia reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2018 while Slovakia made a first appearance at the 2010 World Cup and reached the Round of 16. Both will have high hopes of making Qatar 2022, but the pressure is on the visitors to make some inroads.

They have a decent record against Russia, winning three, drawing two and losing two of the head to heads, and they were victorious in the return fixture, back in March, by a 2-1 scoreline.

But Russia are unbeaten in six at home and this is likely to be a tight and low scoring game.

Betting Tip

	Russia vs Slovakia	Slovakia Asian Handicap +0.75 @ 1.84
	October 9, 02:45 (GMT+8)

Russia are at SBOTOP odds of 1.72 to win another big three points while Slovakia are at 3.74 to peg them back and the draw is at a price of 3.35.

While the hosts are strong on home soil, they are in a period of transition and I think Slovakia have enough quality to get something from this game.