RUS - Russia put focus on youth

MOSCOW (National Team) - Russia general manager Sergei Tarakanov has named a 22-man squad ahead of the qualifying rounds of the European Championships.

The Russians have gone with a youthful-looking party, with a number of experienced players - including Zakhar Pashutin - left out.

"One of our main tasks this year is to check out our young players during the games," Tarakanov told Sport-Express.

"That's why some experienced players, like Zakhar Pashutin, are not on the list. We know him very well and haven't forgotten about him.

"But there are many young players play in his position and we want to see them in action."

Tarakanov also revealed Pavel Podkolzin, whose contract with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks expires at the end of the season, was omitted to give him the opportunity to play in the league's summer camps.

"We aren't going to force anyone to play for the national team," Tarakanov added.

Coach David Blatt will have only 14 players from the squad for the first few weeks of training.

The other eight will join up with the rest of their team-mates on July 29, ahead of the Supercup of the Federations, held in Vilnius, Lithuania from July 31 to August 2.

Squad:
Guards: John Robert Holden, Anton Ponkrashov (both CSKA Moscow), Egor Vyaltsev, Vadim Panin (both Ural-Great), Petr Samoilenko (UNICS Kazan), Nikolai Padius (Aris BSA), Andrei Ivanov (Dynamo St Petersburg), Vitali Fridzon (BC Khimki), Sergei Bykov (Dynamo Moscow).

Forwards: Nikita Kurbanov, Vladimir Dyachok (both CSKA Moscow), Victor Khryapa (Portland Trail Blazers), Sergei Monya (Sacramento Kings), Nikita Morgunov (Dynamo Moscow Region), Yaroslav Korolev (Los Angeles Clippers), Fedor Dmitriev (Spartak St Petersburg), Andrei Trushkin (Ural-Great), Nikita Shabalkin (CSK VVS Samara).

Centers: Alexei Savrasenko, Anatoli Kashirov (both CSKA Moscow), Fedor Likholitov (Dynamo Moscow), Dmitri Sokolov (Lokomotiv-Rostov).

PA Sport