Russia hot and bothered in Austria

Russia became the first team to be eliminated from the UEFA European Under-19 Championship and ended bottom of Group B but coach Ravil Sabitov and attacking midfielder Aleksandr Salugin both believe their side might have accomplished more in Austria had the weather been more favourable.

Best display
Having lost to Germany and Serbia, Sabitov's team concluded their campaign with a goalless draw against France in Steyr on Saturday night, Russia's best performance of the tournament, and save for some inspired goalkeeping from Yohann Carrasso and wayward finishing by Artem Dzyuba it might easily have brought a first win. According to the coach it was no coincidence that his team's improvement, after shipping nine goals in their opening two fixtures, came in the only one of their three group games with an evening kick-off following late-afternoon starts in high temperatures. "We played late today and if we had played our other games at the same time it would have been much better for us," said Sabitov after the game against France.

Potential winners
Salugin, who started all three Russia matches, echoed his coach's thoughts, adding: "The weather was too warm for us because in Russia it's not as hot as it has been here in Austria." Sabitov is convinced had conditions been cooler his team, who were unbeaten in winning their Elite Round group ahead of England, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, would now be preparing for a semi-final on Tuesday. "Our team was good enough to get to the final, but it wasn't to be. The work-rate from the players was very good and the team played well."

No consolation
The 18-year-old Salugin, currently on loan at FC Tekstilschik Telekom from PFC CSKA Moskva, has been one of Russia's top performers in Austria but that is scant consolation to him as he contemplates their early exit. "My own performances mean little because the team hasn't won any matches and that's the most important thing," he told uefa.com. "But it has been very important for me to get experience here and to play against the top international U19 teams in Europe."

Positional problems
Salugin, who has already made the step up to the U21 side - coming on as a substitute against Portugal in October 2006 when just 17 - has adopted a deeper role than usual for the U19s and is not convinced he has performed at his peak, explaining: "Normally I'm an attacking player but I've had to play in midfield and because of this I don't feel as though I've been able to play as well as I do for my club." While Salugin now looks forward to next season and attempts to win a regular role in the U21 side, the U19s will turn their attention to 2008 finals in the Czech Republic, the route to which begins with a qualifying round group involving Germany again, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Estonia.