Artem Dzyuba: How England should deal with the big Russia striker, by Danny Higginbotham

The 6 foot 5 target man is Russia's most dangerous asset - but the Three Lions would be wise not to focus only on the striker

Artem Dzyuba (Getty)

England will face an unusual opponent on Saturday night in the form of Russian centre-forward Artem Dzyuba, who at 6 foot 5 will tower over England’s defenders. I know from experience of playing against strikers that tall the best way to play against them.

What the England defence have to remember is that they do not have to try and get into a physical battle with him, because there is only going to be one winner. From open play it is going to be difficult. It is important that the defenders do not go and challenge him, and do not get too narrow.

From Russian goal-kicks, deep free-kicks or kick outs from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev’s hands, situations that allow England to get organised, I would get holding midfielder Eric Dier to sit in front of Dzyuba. That would allow the England back four to drop deeper, stay compact and focus on winning the second balls. The job for Dier would not necessarily be to win the header, but to stop Dzyuba from getting the ball on his chest and bringing it down. The problem would be if an England centre-back goes to challenge Dzyuba from a goal kick or dead ball situation, because he would then leave big gap between the other centre-back and a full-back, a gap that could be exploited by Russian runners from deep.

We know that Dzyuba will not be making those runs himself as he is not blessed with great pace. That is why England have to be aware of his team-mates in wide positions, and I think they should be especially aware of right-back Igor Smolnikov. He makes dangerous runs and will also be providing the crosses to Dzyuba. If England are too worried about the big man up front, they may take their eyes off threats elsewhere.