Saturday 11 June 2016 07:40, UK
Coach Leonid Slutsky says Russia are preparing to face a very different Wayne Rooney to the one they last met in 2007.
England take on Russia in their opening Euro 2016 Group B clash on Saturday evening, the two teams having last faced each other in a European Championship qualifier in Moscow in October 2007, where Rooney scored before Russia hit back to win 2-1.
The Manchester United star's role has since changed for both club and country. He operated in midfield for much of last season, while Joe Hart said on Thursday Rooney has a key role as a father figure in the young England squad - and Slutsky admits he is trying to work out how to stop Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy scoring, with Rooney, now 30, posing a different threat from his early days.
"He has changed his style. He is not the player that he was," said the Russia coach.
"It reminds me of Vagner Love when he came to CSKA Moscow in 2004. Back then, he was a pure striker because of his speed, his runs, and he scored lots of goals. He was brilliant in the front line.
"Now Vagner Love is very different. He organises, he plays passes. It would be unfair to say that Rooney is worse than before, but he is very different."
Slutsky admitted England were his preferred choice of top-seeded teams to be drawn against at the tournament, although he expects a very difficult game in Marseille.
"We did speak about how it would be good to play against England from the top-seeded teams and that's what has happened," said the 45-year-old, who led CSKA Moscow to three Russian titles before replacing Fabio Capello as national team boss last August.
"However, I'll say again that there are no weak teams at the European Championship. But in terms of our preparations, some of the teams' playing styles are more similar than others."
