Team facts: Russia
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Article top media content
Article body
Russia
EURO 2013: Group stage
EURO best: Group stage (1997, 2001, 2009, 2013)
How they qualified: Group 5 runners-up, W4 D2 L2 F14 A9 Pts14
Coach: Elena Fomina
One to watch: Elena Danilova (midfielder, Ryazan)
What to watch out for: Russia have tended to falter in the group stage as reliably as they have qualified, though theywere unfortunate in 2013 to miss out on the quarter-finals via a drawing of lots with Denmark. This time round, only a 5-0 victory in their last qualifier against Croatia ensured the Russians avoided a play-off by virtue of goals scored, ahead of fellow runner-up Romania, and recent results have not been promising.
The base of the team is formed by the talents that won the 2005 UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship, including Anna Kozhnikova in defence, plus Elena Morozova and the prolific but injury-plagued Elena Danilova further forward. Elena Fomina took over as coach in 2015 having often been the hero on the pitch.