Cuba against Russia: Mission Impossible in Havana?
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The Russian touch returns to Havana |
Havana, Cuba, June 26, 2013 – The Russia national team
has arrived in Havana, Cuba, where the host team hopes to get at least one
victory out of the reigning Olympic Champions. The perceived Mission Impossible
goal will be facilitated by Cuba’s newest weapon: their loyal crowd at Ciudad
Deportiva Coliseum.
Russia’s players looked confident during their first
training session on Wednesday, and were not concerned about the hot weather in
Havana. Instead, team manager Ivan Artamonov says his biggest worry is about
the high humidity of the city, well known as one of the greatest scenarios of
the World League.
"We are focused on reaching the final round,” Artamonov
said, while acknowledging the great shape his players have shown so far in WL
2013. “Once we get to Mar del Plata, it will be a whole new story.”
Last week, Russia struggled to cope with Italy's
excellent blocking in Sergut, but the next day they took a sweet revenge
against the Olympic Bronze medallist.
“Italia is a great team, their players know each other
very well, and they have excellent communication on court,” Artamonov said.
Artamonov confirmed that Cuban audience will be able
to see on action Olympic champions Nikolay Apalikov, Sergey Grankin and Dmitriy
Ilinykh. Some players of the Olympic squad are out of shape or injured, but
that don’t seems to be a problem against the inexperienced Cuban team, last
place in Pool B of WL 2013.
2012 World League finalist Cuba has not won a single
game this year, but they are optimistic. The young squad is full of potential,
but lacks international confrontation.
Head coach Orlando Samuells promised nothing but the best of his
players.
Samuells added that Cuba's goal against Russia is to learn
and get better.
There may be some changes in Cuba’s line up for this
weekend. A technical meeting is scheduled for Thursday, at Meliá Havana Hotel, prior
to the press conference ahead of this weekend matches.
Cuba and Russia meet Friday and Saturday at 00:40 GMT.
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