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By Gennady Fyodorov
MOSCOW, May 26 (Reuters) - Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeyev has a personal score to settle at Euro 2008 after the bitter memory of missing out four years ago on becoming the youngest player in the tournament.
At 18 years and two months, Akinfeyev was youngest player at Euro 2004 in Portugal and hoped to break Belgian Enzo Scifo's 20-year-old record as the youngest ever to play in a European Championship finals.
Scifo made his Euro debut at 18 years three months and 25 days during the 1984 tournament in France.
Instead, Akinfeyev had to watch agonisingly from the bench as Russia lost their first two games against Spain and hosts Portugal and became the first team to be eliminated.
"Although I came to Portugal as Russia's third-choice keeper I was hoping to get a chance to play," the CSKA Moscow captain told Reuters in an interview on the eve of his team's departure for their Euro 2008 training camp in Germany on Sunday.
"After we lost our first two matches and were already eliminated, there was some talk on the team that I would get a chance to play in our last group game against Greece."
Having already broken most of Russia's goalkeeping records, he wanted to make history on an international stage as well.
YOUNGEST EVER
"Of course, I wanted to play but the coach (Georgy Yartsev) decided otherwise so there was nothing I could do other than sit on the bench and watch," recalled Akinfeyev, who made his Russian premier league debut in May 2003, soon after turning 17 and saved a penalty to keep a clean sheet in his first match.
"At 18 I was too young to think about it," said the Moscow native, who made his international debut in a friendly against Norway in April 2004, becoming the youngest goalkeeper ever to play for the national team, including the former Soviet Union.
"Only years later when you look back you realise the importance of it. I could have made football history then.
"But there's no point in dwelling on it now because the more you think about it, the bigger the disappointment gets. So I prefer to look ahead to Euro 2008," he added.
"We have a good young team and if we play to our abilities we have a chance to surprise a few people."
Soon after Euro 2004, Akinfeyev became Russia's undisputed number one, although a serious knee injury sidelined him for most of last year.
When he came back at the start of the 2008 season he had to win his place back on the national team from Vladimir Gabulov and Vyacheslav Malafeyev, who showed great form by leading Zenit St Petersburg to the UEFA Cup.
"(Russia coach) Guus Hiddink has yet to name his number one keeper, so I expect a tough battle from both Gabulov and Malafeyev," said Akinfeyev, now at 22 considered one of the veterans on the national team.
"One thing you know for sure, unlike some previous coaches, with Guus there are no favourites and only the best will play." (Editing by Rex Gowar)
