International Career
Zhirkov has currently won 41 caps for the Russia national football team since his debut back in 2005. and was named in the UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament. In October 2008, Zhirkov was named as one of the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or award, given to the top player in Europe. On 18 November 2009, Zhirkov received his first red card for the national side – he was sent off late in the game for a second bookable offence in the dying minutes of Russia's 0–1 away loss to Slovenia in the 2nd leg of the 2010 World Cup playoff after pushing a Slovenian substitute. Zhirkov was heckled by Russian fans during a friendly match against Serbia in Moscow, almost every time he contacted the ball and even bombarded with a cigarette packet near the corner area. He was confirmed for the finalized UEFA Euro 2012 squad on 25 May 2012.
Read more about this topic: Yuri Zhirkov
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“I seemed intent on making it as difficult for myself as possible to pursue my “male” career goal. I not only procrastinated endlessly, submitting my medical school application at the very last minute, but continued to crave a conventional female role even as I moved ahead with my “male” pursuits.”
—Margaret S. Mahler (1897–1985)