© EuroFootball.com
The main goalkeeper of the Russian national team and Moscow club Igor Akinfeev will not be able to play for at least six months due to a cruciate ligament injury.
In the 1-1 draw with the "Rostov" team over the weekend, the 21-year-old goalkeeper was involved in a collision in the penalty area in the second half and subsequent tests revealed that he tore his left knee cruciate ligaments.
According to CSKA, the footballer will not be able to play for at least six months.
"I'm shocked. That's all I can say," said the goalkeeper.
The head coach of the team, Valery Gazzaev, added: "The goalkeeper's injury always affects the team."
The talented goalkeeper will miss a large part of this season's Russian Premier League matches. Currently, CSKA is in 2nd place in the standings, trailing Moscow's "Spartak" players by three points.
Akinfeev will also not be able to help the team in the start of the UEFA Champions League and will not be able to play in the 2008 European Championship Group E matches against Andorra, Croatia, Macedonia, and England.
Managed by Guus Hiddink, the Russian national team currently has 11 points in the group and is in 2nd position, ahead of rivals such as Israel and England, having played one game less than them.
