A win tonight could be detrimental when considering that many facets of the Russian game are based on confidence and sometimes, you simply don't know which team is going to turn up on the day. Gassayev's 22-man panel is minus the services of Victor Onopko and Yegor Titov currently, probably due to disagreements between manager and players over the past few months. Spartak Moscow skipper Titov has fallen out of favour with the management and Onopko is still searching for a club to sign for.
The Israeli friendly will see the debuts of FC Shinnik Yaroslavi defender Dmitri Vasilyev and Spartak striker Roman Pavluchenko. Following the Russians visit to Dublin on September 6th, they travel to Switzerland four days' later for what is probably the most important tie remaining in the Group.
The Swiss, group leaders by two points, will be at a disadvantage playing wise as tonight's friendly versus France in Geneva, will be their last game before the September 10th meeting with third placed Russia.
A number of Swiss internationals play in the French league and they see it as a 'learning experience' to entertain such 'lauded' players as Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires. Marseille's Fabio Celestini looks a likely starter for Kobi Kuhn's home side in midfield. Hakan Yakin is unavailable due to injury.
Possible line-ups: Switzerland: Stiel; Meyer, Henchoz, Murat Yakin, Berner; Celestini, Vogel, Müller; Cabanas; Frei, Chapuisat.
France: Barthez; Thuram, Desailly, Silvestre, Lizarazu; Makele, Viera, Pires, Zidane; Trezeguet, Henry.