Smertin replaces Hulk as draw assistant - RUSSIA 2018
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Former Russia captain Alexey Smertin has replaced Hulk as a draw assistant for Saturday’s Preliminary Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, due to the Brazilian’s club commitments with FC Zenit.
Smertin appeared at Korea/Japan 2002 and UEFA EURO 2004, and is one of his country’s most successful players. He now joins the team of draw assistants including Ronaldo, Diego Forlan, Fabio Cannavaro, Samuel Eto’o, Oliver Bierhoff, Alexander Kerzhakov, Rinat Dasaev, Madjer and Predrag Rajkovic.
All the draw assistants will participate in a mixed zone on Friday, at around 14.00 at the Konstantin Palace, excluding Bierhoff, who will arrive in Saint Petersburg on a later flight.