Russia coach Guus Hiddink has recalled Sergei Semak to his provisional 25-man squad for Euro 2008.
Hiddink names provisional party for Euro 2008
Russia coach Guus Hiddink has recalled veteran midfielder Sergei Semak to his provisional 25-man squad for the Euro 2008 finals.
The 32-year-old Semak scored four goals in 43 internationals but last played for Russia as a late substitute in a friendly against Spain in May 2006.
The former CSKA Moscow captain led the team to Uefa Cup glory in 2005. He is now a key playmaker for Russian league leaders Rubin Kazan.
Hiddink also called up two newcomers in midfield, with Spartak Moscow's Alexander Pavlenko and Oleg Ivanov of Krylya Sovetov Samara included.
Hiddink's final 23-man roster will be announced on 28th May.
Russia open their Euro 2008 campaign against Spain on 10th June and will also play Greece and Sweden in the group stage.
Russia squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Perm), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg).
Defenders: Alexander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg), Alexei Berezutsy (CSKA Moscow), Vasily Berezursky (CSKA Moscow), Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Denis Kolodin (Dynamo Moscow), Renat Yanbayev (Lokomotiv Moscow).
Midfielders: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Dmitry Torbinsky (Lokomotiv Moscow), Vladimir Bystrov (Spartak Moscow), Alexander Pavlenko (Spartak Moscow), Yury Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Shirokov (Zenit St Petersburg), Igor Semshov (Dynamo Moscow), Oleg Ivanov (Samara), Sergei Semak (Kazan).
Strikers: Roman Adamov (FC Moscow), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Spartak Moscow), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Zenit St Petersburg), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Dmitry Sychev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Ivan Saenko (Nuremberg).
