MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian national football team will most likely play against Liechtenstein in 2010 World Cup qualifier on Saturday without its leading players, coach Guus Hiddink has said.
Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin aggravated a groin injury during the club's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last Saturday, and Yury Zhirkov, who plays for Chelsea, has been out with knee injury.
"They [Arshavin and Zhirkov] will most likely miss tomorrow's game," Hiddink said on Friday, adding that additional medical checkup would determine their chances to play in the match.
However, the team has enough good players to substitute the leaders, the coach said.
Hiddink also said that in the upcoming game his team would attempt to penetrate the opponent's defenses using heavily flank attacks.
The Russian side have struggled in the away game against Liechtenstein but won 1:0.
This time Russia will face Liechtenstein in Arshavin's hometown of St. Petersburg, then travel to Cardiff to play Wales on September 9. Guus Hiddink's side are in second place in 2010 World Cup qualifying Group 4, four points behind leaders Germany with a game in hand.
