Tournament feature
Group C: Russia — Russians Are Ready
She Kicks, issue SK15, July 2013 p.20
Ekaterina Grishenkov previews Russia, who reached Euro 2013 by beating Austria 3-1 on aggregate in the play-offs, those two games the first in charge for Sergei Lavrentyev after Farid Benstiti returned to Paris Saint-Germain. Lavrentyev is assisted by former international Elena Fomina, who won over a hundred caps. Fewer than half the expanded 25-player squad played at the 2009 finals in Finland. Names to watch include Natalia Shlyapina, Russia’s top scorer in qualifying, Alla Sidorovskaya, back after having a baby, captain Ksenia Tsybutovich, one of five in the squad who won the 2005 UEFA under-19 title, and 34-year-old Tatiana Skotnikova, a veteran of two World Cups and two Euros. Defender Daria Makarenko calls it the most important tournament of her career, while goalkeeper Elvira Todua rates France narrow favourites in the group.