Russia ready for Israel test

Russia coach Valery Gazzaev has named a 22-man squad for the 20 August friendly against Israel.

CSKA dominate
Despite the club's failure in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, PFC CSKA Moskva players continue to dominate Gazzaev's squad, with no fewer than seven players from the current Russian league leaders named.

Potential debutants
Two players may make their international debuts at the Lokomotiv stadium in Moscow as FC Shinnik Yaroslavl defender Dmitry Vasilyev and FC Spartak Moskva striker Roman Pavluchenko have both been called up. Pavluchenko made an unofficial debut for Russia in an exhibition match against a Russian Premier-Liga all-stars team recently.

Left behind
There is no place for either defender Victor Onopko, who is without a club, or Spartak captain Yegor Titov who does not fit into Gazzaev's plans.

Russia squad
Ovchinnikov, Mandrikin, Sennikov, Ignashevitch, Nizhegorodov, Evsikov, A Berezoutski, V Berezoutski, Kovtun, Vasilyev, Gusev, Bistrov, Loskov, Hohlov, Kariaka, Aldonin,  Smertin, Semak, Popov, Kerzhakov, Pavluchenko, Sytchev.