Romantsev names Russia squad

Sergei Ovchinnikov and Rolan Gusev, two players who have been left out of the squad despite having excellent seasons have said that their exclusion is down to a clash of personalities with Romantsev.

Ovchinnikov has spoken to a Russian newspaper about the situation:

'I was hoping that common sense would prevail in the end.'

'I still feel that you don't deal in such a way at this level, but I guess I was wrong.'

The full Russia squad:

Ruslan Nigmatullin (Verona), Alexander Filimonov (Uralan Elista), Stanislav Cherchesov (Tirol Innsbruck), Yuri Nikiforov (PSV Eindhoven), Viktor Onopko (Oviedo), Igor Chugainov (Uralan Elista), Yuri Kovtun (Spartak Moscow), Vyacheslav Dayev (CSKA Mo scow), Andrei Solomatin (CSKA Moscow), Dmitry Sennikov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexander Mostovoi (Celta Vigo), Valery Karpin (Celta Vigo), Dmitry Alenichev (Porto), Yegor Titov (Spartak Moscow), Dmitry Khokhlov (Real Sociedad), Sergei Semak (CSKA Moscow), Alexei Smertin (Girondins Bordeaux), Marat Izmailov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Igor Semshov (Torpedo Moscow), Vladimir Beschastnykh (Spartak Moscow), Dmitry Sychyov (Spartak Moscow), Alexander Kerzhakov (Zenit St Petersburg), Ruslan Pimenov (Lokomotiv Moscow)

21st May 2002