Decimated by injuries, darkened by off-pitch conflicts and cocooned from truly elite-competition, the mood is immensely gloomy for the host nation.
They have yet to progress past the group stages of a World Cup post Soviet Union and are also one of the lowest ranked teams in the competition.
As you can imagine, expectations are low. Indeed, the writing is on the wall, legible to all even if written in Cyrillic.
Joined by Egypt, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group A, the aim since the disappointing performances of Euro 2016.
Defensively, Cherchesov has swapped to a back three but serious knee injuries for Viktor Vasin (CSKA) and Georgi Dzhikiya (Spartak Moscow) – the two youngsters brought in to replace Sergei Ignashevich (who has returned to the national team fold after retirement) and Vasily Berezutski – have left them painfully exposed.
They are short of goals, too. Aleksandr Kokorin was in rich goalscoring form plundering 19 times for Zenit before a knee injury ruled him out of the for Stanislav Cherchesov’s men is simply to get through to the knockouts.
Only once has a host nation suffered the indignity of failing to qualify from the group stages – South Africa in 2010 – but with Egypt serious contenders to progress alongside Uruguay, Russia are at risk of national embarrassment.
After the high of a Euro 2008 semi-final run, they have endured extreme lows since and ambitious talk of a quarter-final or last-four berth have faded entirely.
And to make matters worse one of their finer talents, Igor Denisov has been exiled having fallen out with Cherchesov at Dynamo Moscow, forming quite the toxic backdrop.
Another player that was left out of recent squads for the same reason is Artem Dzyuba after they had a conflict following the Confederations Cup, although the forward is expected to feature on home soil.
Their hopes lie with the technically gifted midfield operators Alan Dzagoev and Aleksandr Golovin from CSKA alongside twins Aleksei and Anton Miranchuk from Lokomotiv Moscow.
Of course, Igor Akinfeev remains a pillar of strength in goal, though even he has been prone to high-profile errors, notably against South Korea four years ago.
But with a squad dominated by players who largely play domestically, and qualification secured automatically as hosts, Russia is a team ring fenced from facing elite-level competition.
Ultimately, the forecast for them is somewhat akin to their winters – bitter disappointment.
KEY PLAYER
Alan Dzagoev
An artistic playmaker, Dzagoev shot to prominence at Euro 2012, finishing as the tournament’s joint-top scorer. However, injuries have disarmed him and now aged 27 he carries immense expectation to perform.
COACH
Stanislav Cherchesov
A squad battered by injuries has Cherchesov on the back foot even before the tournament opener with Saudi Arabia. A defence-first policy has created a dull outfit and his penchant for three at the back has been scrutinised.
CAPTAIN
Igor Akinfeev
The goalkeeper was central to Russia’s remarkable Euro 2008 semi-final berth and while
he’s still held in high regard domestically, the now 32-year-old’s decline has mirrored that of his country as he’s failed to push on.
YOUNG STAR
Aleksandr Golovin
Russia’s finest talent, the 22-year-old has been in sparkling form for CSKA Moscow this season. He is a contrast to the dull nature of this team, a creative two-way player equally as strong in the tackle as he is sparking attacks.
KEY FACTS AND STATS
– Three key players have suffered severe knee injuries (Aleksandr Kokorin, Viktor Vasin and Georgy Dzhikiya)
– 10 years since Russia made it out of the group stage of any tournament
– Russia are the second lowest ranked team heading into their home World Cup
FIFA Rating
70 DEF 78 MID 76 ATT
World Cups competed at
11 (7 as Sovet Union)
World Cup record
P40, W17, D8, L15
Best finish
Fourth-place (1966)
Qualification Record
N/A
Ranking
66
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Club Brugge), Andrey Lunyov (Zenit St Petersburg).
Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fyodor Kudryashov (both Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrei Semyonov (Akhmat Grozny), Sergei Ignashevich, Mario Fernandes (both CSKA Moscow), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg).
Midfielders: Yury Gazinsky (Krasnodar), Aleksandr Golovin, Alan Dzagoev (both CSKA Moscow), Aleksandr Yerokhin, Yuri Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (all Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin, Aleksandr Samedov (both Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal).
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Aleksei Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fyodor Smolov (Krasnodar).
VERDICT
An ugly blend of a tepid attack, fragile defence, inconsistent goalkeeping and a dull style means expectations are extremely low. Getting out of the group stage would be a considerable success.
