Russian league leaders Spartak Moscow, remarkably the only Champions League contenders to have won both opening games, will be on a mission of redemption when they meet Inter Milan in a Group C clash at the San Siro tomorrow night.
At stake is not just Spartak's desire for revenge against the side that knocked them out of the UEFA Cup at the semifinal stage last season but, more importantly, the pride and reputation of all Russian soccer.
Russia, albeit in the guise of the former USSR, was once the dominant force of eastern European soccer, but they have gone into a dramatic recent decline, clearly related to the country's current socio-economic crisis.
As Russians prepare for a winter in which Prime Minister Yevgeni Primakov's priority may be avoiding widespread hunger following the worst wheat harvest in 40 years, the recent performances of the national team have mirrored the sense of economic disorder.
Earlier this autumn, Russia lost their first Euro 2000 qualifier, 3-2 away to
Ukraine. Given that Ukraine draw on the talent of Dinamo Kiev, one of the best sides of the moment in eastern Europe, this was not such a disgrace. That game, however, was followed by a 3-2 defeat against France. Again, this was hardly a disgrace even if disappointing.
Last Wednesday, however, Russia touched rock-bottom when they were beaten 1-0 by Iceland, with the winning goal coming from a cruel 88th-minute own goal (Kovtun). Three games played, three games lost - farewell Euro 2000.
Against this background, tomorrow night's encounter assumes added importance. Spartak will certainly want to win as a matter of national pride. From a more prosaic viewpoint, some talented Spartak players will see the San Siro as an opportunity to strut their stuff on a major western Europe stage and perhaps pick up new employment for next year - better paid employment that would pluck them out of the potential chaos of life back home.
The point about Spartak, of course, is that by winning 2-1 away to Rotor Volgograd on Saturday, they just about wrapped up the Russian League title as they now have a six-point lead with just two games to play (against Shininik and Chernormorets). If Spartak win the title, it will be their sixth win in seven editions of the post-Soviet Russian championship.
As in the past, however, Spartak's success could well lead to their temporary disintegration. Put simply, in the absence of an unlikely economic miracle in Russia, Spartak still rely on player sales for at least 70 per cent (probably more this winter) of revenue.
Logically enough, players often leave Russian soccer at the end of the Russian League season, the end of this month.
In the past, this trend has prompted huge inconsistency in Spartak's Champions Cup (and Champions League) performances since the side which does well in the autumn to qualify for the quarter-finals may be radically changed by the following spring.
This is one of the inevitable problems encountered by those countries (mainly Scandinavian and eastern European) which play a summer soccer championship for climatic reasons.
For the time being, Spartak coach Oleg Romantsev, former Russian national coach and also the club president, is worried not so much about a future drain on his player talent as by the problems presented by playing the final three Champions League Group games after his league season is over. So far, however, Spartak have made an excellent start, winning 2-0 away to Austrians Sturm Graz and 2-1 at home to the holders, Real Madrid.
"If we play against Inter as we did against Real Madrid, then we could at least pick up a draw at the San Siro. However, with every day that passes our physical condition is bound to get slightly worse."
The men on whom Romantsev will be pinning his hopes and the men most likely to be closely observed by western talent scouts include goalkeeper Alexander Filimonov, defender Dimitrij Khlestov and midfielder Ilia Tsymbalar. Unfortunately, Spartak will be without two key performers in injured striker Aleksandr Shirko and suspended midfielder Egor Titov.
However, Spartak's misfortune is offset by the fact that Inter will be without Ronaldo, Roberto Baggio and Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu and Taribo West.
Furthermore, Inter have been in dire form so far this season, notably in an abject 2-0 loss to Real Madrid one month ago, not to mention a 5-3 humiliation by Lazio at home on Sunday night. It could be Spartak's night and a timely boost for Russian soccer, too.
