In a Russian side full of domestic talent, Artem Dzyuba leads the pack from the front, providing the fire power that could make Russia a force to be reckoned with.
Role in the Team
A tall, imposing striker, Dzyuba plays in somewhat of a target man role, relying on his teammates to provide him the ball in advanced positions. The Zenit St. Petersburg man then uses his strength on the ball to help him work his way through the oppositions defence. Dzyuba has often been compared to Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimović in terms of style of play and the comparison is very apt.
READ MORE: Euro 2016 – Russia team preview
The 27-year-old striker is regarded as the main firepower for the national side after a strong qualification campaign and fans will be hoping that Dzyuba will fit into a role similar to that of Miroslav Klose for Germany. But with impressive technical skills and an impressive ability to retain and win the ball back, Dzyuba has all the balls in place for an impressive European campaign.
Recent Form
Dzyuba was the strongest part of the Russian campaign to qualify for Euro 2016, netting eight goals for his efforts as Russia secured a top two finish in Group G. One of only five players to net eight or more goals during the qualification process, Dzyuba could be a dark horse to take home the Golden Boot.
However, international form may mean nothing if Dzyuba was not able to back it up on a domestic and continental stage. Dzyuba netted 15 goals in 30 games for Zenit St Petersburg in the last Russian Premier League season, placing him fourth in the league overall and only two behind Zenit teammate Hulk. Dzyuba also managed to net on a continental level, scoring six goals in eight matches as Zenit went to the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
Dzyuba also managed to take home the Russian Cup this past season, with his two goals in four matches helping Zenit lift the trophy and end the season with some silverware, after Zenit failed to retain their Russian Premier League title, only finishing third.
Conclusion
Dzyuba is a player that one could argue is due for a big move out of Russia, as his goal scoring statistics are solid enough that he could play as a lead striker for a Premier League side. This may be behind his motivation in the Euros, as he seeks to help guide Russia out of the group stages and towards a strong finish. With an eye on the Golden Boot trophy, Dzyuba may just be that wild card one is searching for.
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