[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-sergei-semak-recalls-initial-challenges-at-zenit-st-petersburg":43,"news-related-sergei-semak-recalls-initial-challenges-at-zenit-st-petersburg-en":75,"news-related-match-sergei-semak-recalls-initial-challenges-at-zenit-st-petersburg-en":26},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",2,19,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":45,"category":46,"excerpt":47,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":48,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":52,"slug":53,"sourceName":54,"sourceURL":55,"teamId":56,"teamName":57,"teamIds":58,"teamNames":66,"title":74},"In a revealing look back at his early days in charge, Zenit St. Petersburg's head coach Sergei Semak has shared the substantial hurdles he encountered right from the start of his tenure. Speaking in the club's documentary series 'Zenit Forever,' Semak detailed the complex squad situation he inherited.\n\nThe primary challenge, according to Semak, was the sheer volume of players under contract with the club. He described the initial task as one requiring a thorough evaluation of the entire roster to determine who would be part of the future plans. This process involved not just assessing the players already present, but also managing the return of several athletes who had been out on loan and were no longer part of the active squad.\n\nCompounding this logistical challenge was the club's transfer strategy at the time. Semak made it clear that the plan did not involve bringing in new signings. The directive was to work with and make sense of the existing pool of talent. This meant the new manager had to quickly identify strengths, weaknesses, and potential within a large and somewhat disjointed group of players.\n\nDespite the daunting nature of this initial phase, Semak reflected on it with a degree of humor. He suggested that given the circumstances—the mandate to succeed without new reinforcements and the need to streamline a large squad—there might have been a slightly higher tolerance for not winning the championship immediately. He implied that the board's expectations were tempered by the reality of the difficult rebuilding job he was undertaking.\n\nThis period of assessment and integration was a critical first step in what has become a highly successful era for Zenit under Semak's leadership. The coach's ability to navigate these early problems laid the foundation for the team's subsequent achievements. His comments offer a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that often precedes on-field success.\n\nThe interview provides context for the immense pressure and strategic thinking required at the top level of football management. Semak's experience underscores the importance of squad cohesion and clear planning, even when faced with a roster that initially seems unwieldy.\n\nBased on reporting from Чемпионат.com.","news","Zenit St. Petersburg manager Sergei Semak discusses the significant roster management issues he faced immediately upon taking charge, including a bloated squad and no new signings planned.","327780761933451265","326135624887177216","Championship","0","2026-05-07T10:01:13Z","sergei-semak-recalls-initial-challenges-at-zenit-st-petersburg","Championat","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.championat.com\u002Ffootball\u002Fnews-6459464-semak-rasskazal-o-problemah-s-kotorymi-stolknulsya-srazu-posle-naznacheniya-v-zenit.html","326257611768860672","Zenit",[56,59,60,61,62,63,64,65],"326222707169431552","326257539962376192","326257545754710016","326257546392244224","326257554411753472","326257556324356096","326257613643714560",[57,67,68,69,70,71,72,73],"Anderlecht","Como","Newcastle","Nottingham Forest","Newcastle Jets","Newells Old Boys","Hassania Agadir","Sergei Semak Recalls Initial Challenges at Zenit St. Petersburg",[76,116,146,178],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":77,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":78,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":79,"slug":80,"sourceName":81,"sourceURL":82,"teamId":83,"teamName":84,"teamIds":85,"teamNames":100,"title":115},"Italy beat Spain 4-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw to set up a U17 European Championship final against Belgium, who eliminated France earlier.","338075747069464577","2026-06-04T19:28:40Z","italy-edge-spain-on-penalties-u17-euro-final-vs-belgium","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FL-italie-rejoint-la-belgique-en-finale-de-l-euro-des-moins-de-17-ans\u002F1681874#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326257661500723200","Italy",[83,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,59],"326222711401484288","326222712936599552","326222767416414208","326255039846813696","326255041625198592","326257536296554496","326257536413995008","326257537865224192","326257539844935680","326257664680005632","326257696636407808","326222711447621632","326222711569256448","326222711653142528",[84,101,102,103,104,105,106,107,108,109,110,111,112,113,114,67],"Belgium","Paraguay","Lesotho","FK Partizan","Partizani","Auxerre","Paris FC","Estoril","Parma","Estonia","Azzurri","France","Brazil","Spain","Italy Edge Spain on Penalties: U17 Euro Final vs Belgium",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":117,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":118,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":119,"slug":120,"sourceName":121,"sourceURL":122,"teamId":123,"teamName":124,"teamIds":125,"teamNames":135,"title":145},"Italy U17 edged Spain 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, goalkeeper Lupo saving two spot-kicks, to book a U17 Euro final vs Belgium on June 7. Lupo also saved","338067843268481025","2026-06-04T19:13:51Z","italy-u17-beat-spain-on-penalties-set-up-final-vs-belgium","Tuttosport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tuttosport.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcalcio\u002Fitalia\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F04-149032827\u002Fl_italia_u17_batte_la_spagna_ai_rigori_e_vola_in_finale_dell_europeo_ecco_chi_affronta\u002F","326255039347691520","Fiorentina",[123,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,86,99,83,59,134],"326222712592666624","326222713054040064","326255039171530752","326255041851691008","326257536372051968","326257546220277760","326257554193649664","326222712143876096","326222712496197632",[124,136,137,138,139,140,141,142,143,101,114,84,67,144],"Congo DR","Haiti","Dinamo Minsk","Cherno More Varna","Metz","Chelsea","Perth Glory","Portugal","Netherlands","Italy U17 Beat Spain on Penalties, Set Up Final vs Belgium",{"awayTeamId":147,"awayTeamName":148,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":149,"homeTeamId":150,"homeTeamName":151,"id":152,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":153,"matchName":154,"publishedAt":155,"slug":156,"sourceName":157,"sourceURL":158,"teamId":159,"teamName":160,"teamIds":161,"teamNames":169,"title":177},"326255038148120576","Hibernian","Celtic hold constructive talks with Robbie Keane and plan discussions with Martin O'Neill as manager search continues; Rangers target Hampus Skoglund.","326257567044997120","Rangers","337875415949381633","327053940279480320","Rangers vs Hibernian","2026-06-04T06:36:46Z","why-celtic-talks-keane-o-neill-manager-search","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fcp9pd3l5mp2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss","326257567011442688","Celtic",[159,150,147,162,163,59,164,165,166,167,168],"326257539333230592","326257546153168896","326255038768877568","326255044473131008","326257590021394432","326222711535702016","326222713142120448",[160,151,148,170,171,67,172,173,174,175,176],"AC Milan","West Ham","Hammarby FF","Hamrun Spartans","Toronto FC","Sweden","Canada","Why Celtic Talks Keane & O'Neill: Manager Search",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":46,"excerpt":179,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":180,"leagueId":49,"leagueName":50,"matchId":51,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":181,"slug":182,"sourceName":81,"sourceURL":183,"teamId":97,"teamName":112,"teamIds":184,"teamNames":195,"title":206},"France U17 face Belgium in the Euro U17 semi-final on Thursday 4 June at 13:30 CEST, live on L'Equipe Live foot. Les Bleuets aim for a fourth title after","337848745020362753","2026-06-04T04:50:00Z","france-u17-vs-belgium-kick-off-time-tv-channel-for-euro","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FA-quelle-heure-et-sur-quelle-chaine-voir-france-belgique\u002F1681339#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[97,86,185,186,88,187,188,189,190,191,192,95,193,194],"326257786696503296","326222707404312576","326222767449968640","326257544295092224","326257563228180480","326257565845426176","326257664877137920","326257661421031424","326257745512632320","326257600737841152",[112,101,196,197,103,198,199,200,201,202,203,110,204,205],"Les Bleuets","Charleroi","Chad","Chapecoense-sc","Groningen","Mallorca","Montenegro","Denmark","Members","Junior","France U17 vs Belgium: Kick-Off Time, TV Channel for Euro"]