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#3 He was a back up for Russian star Alan Dzagoev
Alan Dzagoev is a creative player who likes to control the game with his short passes, a player who likes to create chances with his through balls and key passes. On the other hand, Denis is someone who runs tirelessly on the pitch, pressing hard, contributing defensively for the team and at the same time being a constant threat by cutting inside and taking shots.
Unlike Dzagoev, who has always been one of the hottest prospects to come out of Russia, Denis' selection into the 23 men Russian FIFA World Cup squad raised a lot of criticism and pundits thought he would only be a meagerly used substitute to Dzagoev. Had it not been for the injury to Dzagoev in the Saudi Arabia match, Denis would have still been unknown.
Including Denis in the squad came as a blessing in disguise for Russia because it added a unique dynamism to the team where the technicalities of La Liga combined beautifully with the directness of Russian style.
