Moscow, Oct 10: Georgia train in Moscow ahead of Euro 2004 qualifier with Russia. The Georgian national team arrived in Moscow on Thursday (October 9) and immediately began preparing for Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier with Russia. Georgia is missing its top two players, with Rangers' striker Shota Arveladze nursing a knee injury and AC Milan winger Kakha Kaladze still not fully fit after groin surgery last month. The Georgians, who are bottom of their group with seven points from seven matches, will also be without suspended defender Alexander Rekhviashvili, who plays for the Russian premier league club Torpedo-Metallurg Moscow and Twente Enschede midfielder Goga Gakhohidze. But the team, according to coach Zurab Gordania, is in good spirit. "I can say that the team is in a good spirit because any game, especially on the national level, is a great motivation especially when you're playing against the Russian national team." he said. Russia meets Georgia in the Locomotive stadium in Moscow on Saturday. The Russians, who are in second place a point behind group leaders Switzerland, need only to avoid defeat in their final qualifier to secure a playoff spot.


Russia's coach Georgy Yartsev told a news conference in Moscow on Monday that his team was ready for the game.


"I'ld like to stress once again that Georgian football players have always been very strong individually and if their individual style of playing is combined with collective then it becomes a team that can beat anyone" he said.


Bureau Report