Samedov gets Russia call-up for Euro 2012

Russia coach Dick Advocaat has called up Dinamo Moscow winger Aleksandr Samedov for the deciding Euro 2012 qualifiers against Slovakia and Andorra. The right-sided 27-year-old has been in outstanding form for Dinamo this season, a major factor in the club's turnaround from also-rans last year to title challengers this season. Samedov, who is of Azeri descent, has represented Russia at youth level but never made the step up to the senior squad, despite calls from many commentators that he was ready. He has turned down several requests to represent Azerbaijan internationally. Russia travel to Slovakia on October 7 and play Andorra at home four days later. Russia lead Group B by two points, with 17 from eight games. Three other teams could also qualify from the group, including Ireland, in second on 15 points, and Slovakia and Armenia, joint third with 14 points. Squad: Goalkeepers: Vyacheslav Malafeev (Zenit St. Peterburg), Anton Shunin (Dinamo Moscow) Defenders: Aleksandr Anyukov (Zenit), Aleksei Berezutsky, Vasily Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich (all CSKA Moscow), Roman Shishkin (Lokomotiv Moscow) Midfielders: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Everton), Denis Glushakov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Igor Denisov, Roman Shirokov, Konstantin Ziryanov (all Zenit), Alan Dzagoev (CSKA), Aleksandr Samedov, Igor Semshov (both Dinamo) Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Zenit), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham Hotspur), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Stuttgart)