Advocaat sweats on Akinfeev fitness for Czech opener as Russia keeper struggles with knee injury

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UPDATED:

17:42 GMT, 5 June 2012

Fluid on the knee: Akinfeev

Russia coach Dick Advocaat says keeper
Igor Akinfeev is still troubled by a knee injury just days before his
team's European Championship opener against the Czech Republic.

Advocaat says the CSKA Moscow custodian would not join the team's full training session on Tuesday to avoid exacerbating the injury.

Advocaat said: 'There is still a little fluid on his knee.'

Akinfeev missed much of last season with a serious left knee injury, and only returned to fitness at the end of the season.

Russia play the Czech Republic on Friday in Wroclaw and should Akinfeev fail to prove his fitness, Advocaat will turn to Zenit St. Petersburg keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.