Euro 2012: Russia’s Berezutsky hails Dzagoev’s injury recovery
June 16th, 2012 - 9:06 am ICT by IANSMoscow, June 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian defender Alexei Berezutsky has praised his teammate Alan Dzagoev’s strong recovery from injury to become one of the in-form players of Euro 2012.
The midfielder has scored three goals at Euro 2012, making him the joint top scorer, despite missing a month at the end of the Russian season with a broken toe.
“I am surprised by the fact that he has regained his form so quickly,” said centre-back Berezutsky.
“Normally it takes more time. He had a serious injury, but quickly recovered and reached the necessary form.”
Berezutsky said he misses his injured identical twin brother Vasily, who usually partners him in the Russia and CSKA Moscow defence, but withdrew from the squad last month with a hip problem.
If Russia beats Greece Saturday, they are assured of a place in the quarterfinals as group winners, while Greece must win to have any hope of progressing.
Dzagoev and the Berezutsky brothers all featured regularly for CSKA last season as the Moscow team finished third in the Russian Premier League and reached the last 16 of the Champions League.
Dzagoev has scored 26 times in his 102 CSKA appearances.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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Tags: broken toe, champions league, cska moscow, euro 2012, greece, group winners, midfielder, premier league, quarterfinals, ria novosti, russia, teammate, top scorer, twin brother, vasily