Armenia short of attacking options
Monday, March 17, 2003
Article summary
Caretaker coach Andranik Adamyan has named just two strikers in his squad to meet Northern Ireland and Spain.
Article body
Replaces López
The Armenian Football Federation (AFF) turned to Adamyan in late January following the resignation of the Argentinian Oscar López. Adamyan, who also presides over FC Shirak, has thus far been involved in one game in a caretaker capacity - a 2-0 friendly international defeat by Israel on 12 February.
Sole strikers
For his first competitive match, Adamyan has been hit hard by injuries to his attack, leaving him with little option but to name Arman Karamyan of Panahaiki GC and FC Torpedo-Metallurg Moskva's Karen Ohanyan as his sole strikers.
Apology required
One notable absentee is Andrey Movsesyan. The FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast forward is omitted after refusing to take part in the 2-0 qualifying defeat by Greece and the friendly in Tel-Aviv. AFF president Ruben Hayrapetyan said of the player: "Movsesyan will not appear for Armenia until he apologises publicly to the fans for not turning up when called upon."
One point
Armenia have one point from two EURO 2004™ qualifying matches. They began their campaign with a home 2-2 draw against Ukraine before going down 2-0 in Greece. The Northern Irish also have one point, though they are bottom of the section. The match in Spain takes place on 2 April.
Armenia squad
Berezovski, Hambartsumyan, Hovsepyan, Vardanyan, Artur Mkrtchyan, Dokhoyan, Bilibio, Petikyan, Tadevosyan, Hakobyan, Petrosyan, Mkhitaryan, Khachatryan, Sargsyan, Voskanyan, Melikyan, Agvan Mkrtchyan, Aleksanyan, Partsikyan, Artavazd Karamyan, Arman Karamyan, Ohanyan.
