Rubin training camp: London ‘hammers’ broken by Kazan ‘stones’

Major test

Undoubtedly, the rival was the most serious test for the Stones in the matches before the start of the season. Nevertheless, the Hammers are a club of the strongest club championships of the planet – the EPL. Moreover, West Ham will play European competitions after the seventh positions in the league last spring.

It should be noted Gökhan Töre, a well-known player to Kazan fans, appeared on the pitch in the squad of the English club. The Turkish player who did not manage to speak the same language with Kurban Berdyev was taken on loan from Beşiktaş by the English.

Gökhan Töre, a well-known player to Kazan fans, appeared on the pitch in the squad of the English club. Photo: eurosport.com

Your loyal servant wondered during the previous match (with Dutch Vitesse) why Sergey Ryzhikov disappeared off the radar screen. Let's tell you the favourite of the Kazan spectators appeared on the pitch in the match and was very confident, as usual. I expected to see a prototype of the 'first eleven' of the Kazan club in the game with the high-profile Hammers. Javier Gracia presented his ideas for approval.

Ustinov and Burlak's road to the first team

The Spanish expert continues to develop the Sanchez-Burlak combination in the centre of defence and believe in Ustinov's game that questions Bauer's perspectives in the battle with the English. Despite regular mistakes made by Ozdoev in passes, his combination with Caktaš seems not to have alternatives. Will it last for a long time? Because Alex Song will sign a contract with the Kazan club at the end of the week. Judging by friendlies, I suppose Ozdoev can warm the bench in official matches. What is more, Ustinov and Burlak are the nominees for the first eleven. It means Gracia has variants to fill the minimum passport quota.

Nevertheless, the coach added Ilzat Akhmetov to the would-be first team who occupied the position on the right side in defence where Samuel García was expected. However, the actions of the latter on the flank did not impress the Spanish specialist. So, García was the second forward in this match. By the way, he looked there better. Maxime Lestienne appeared on the left flank. Marko Dević finally became the striker. All these characters formed the classic 4-4-2 scheme that will become principal for the Kazan club.

Mijo Caktaš seems to have caught Ozdoev's virus because he had inaccurate passes

The first minutes of the match passed at a high speed with a great deal of mutual mistakes and a pile of fight in the centre of the field. In the 8 ^th minute, Ustinov's semi-cross caught Marko off his guard who did not manage to work with the ball. The Englishmen replied with a dangerous standard as a result of which Reece Burke kicked the ball from the box above Ryzhikov's net.

Unfortunately, Rubin's ball possession was bad at the beginning. Mijo Caktaš seems to have caught Ozdoev's virus because he had inaccurate passes. But an attack of Rubin in the 23 ^rd minute resulted in a goal exploded the chaotic course of the game. García gracefully passed the ball to the front line from Akhmetov's flank whose accurate pass reached the centre and found Dević who defeated the post of the goalkeeper – 1:0. To tell the truth, the goal was logical. But we should note Gracia succeeded in the new combination with García in the centre under the forward and right midfielder Akhmetov. These players created the goal for the Ukrainian forward.

This success added positive emotions to the Kazan players. In several minutes, Lestienne almost conceded a goal behind the goalkeeper's back who was not in goals. Only in the 30 ^th minute, the Englishmen managed to possess the ball. However, the Kazan guys were not against. Horizontal passes far from Rubin's penalty area performed by West Ham were not dangerous.

In the 45 ^th minute, a flank defender of West Ham just presented the ball to Maxime Lestienne who easily coped with the central defender and directly kicked the ball to the corner of the Englishmen – 2:0

Lestienne marked his appearance in the competition with a goal

Meanwhile, in the 35 ^th minute Magomed Ozdoev showed his original loss of the ball in his half of the pitch. It is good that Töre could not use this gift. The Spanish specialist needs to do something with the desired passport owner. Ozdoev has been creating dangerous moments near his own goals since the previous season.

Anyway, the Stones ended the first half. In the 45 ^th minute, a flank defender of West Ham just presented the ball to Maxime Lestienne who easily coped with the central defender and directly kicked the ball to the corner of the Englishmen – 2:0, and the custodian needs to be changed.

Substitutions like in an official match

During the break, Javier Gracia did not substitute anybody, it is no surprise. As for other games between seasons, the Spaniard used to substitute players from the 60 ^th minute except the forced substitutions, of course. The same thing happened in the game with the Dutch players when Magomed Ozdoev substituted Ruslan Kambolov during the first half. We did not see a complete change of the squad. Neither did we in the match with Vitesse. It seems the second variant of the team will have the analogous chance to play all 90 minutes in the game with Norwich in Austria.

Only in the 53 ^rd minute, Karadeniz substituted Dević who was injured. So, Gracia decided to try to play without nominal forwards. Caktaš's firm shot marked this event. The ball was accurately saved by the keeper of the Hammers who jumped like a cat.

In the 53 ^rd minute Karadeniz substituted Dević who was injured

Having prepared his subs like in an official match, Gracia made changes in the 62 ^nd minute. So, we finally saw Carlos Zambrano wearing Rubin's T-shirt who substituted Burlak. By the way, Taras looked good in this game. If I were Zambrano, Kverkvelia or Bergström, I would start to worry. The Russian defender has the 'right' passport and a reliable game. A killing mixture!

Irreplaceable Karadeniz

In the 67 ^th minute, the Kazan players demonstrated a great quick attack. Ozdoev involved Ustinov in the attack who performed a targeted cross towards Karadeniz. Karadeniz beautifully directed the ball to the net. Only the goal post saved West Ham. But Karadeniz corrected his mistakes and scored the second goal in the two matches. After García's offer, Karadeniz suddenly appeared from behind like jack-in-the-box and confidently conceded a goal – 3:0. Karadeniz is likely to play in the first team in the next season but as a striker.

The Kazan players went on attacking. Karadeniz and García were able to score, and West Ham's incomprehensible actions in attack allowed Rubin to rush in attack regularly. The match ended with a confident win of Rubin that, undoubtedly, adds optimism to all us because there is a short distance and one friendly with British Norwich before the derby with Amkar (Russian Premier League). Gracia's players will meet with Amkar on 1 August on the grass of the Kazan Central Stadium.