Posted on 06/15/2004 4:01:11 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Players' Wives Give Team Lucky Strip
Thu Jun 10, 2:27 PM ET
By Sonia Oxley
MOSCOW (Reuters) - If Russia win Euro 2004 the players will thank their lucky strip -- a nude photo-shoot by their wives.
Nine wives and girlfriends undressed for the cameras to encourage their men to win matches at the tournament being hosted by Portugal. Only a strategically placed placard featuring a photo of their partners offered some cover.
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Daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda is printing one of the photos on a full page every day hoping they will inspire the players at the tournament starting on Saturday.
"The wives have done their part, now it's the men's turn," said freelance photographer Svetlana Yeriklintseva, who came up with the idea for the pictures when the women told her they wanted to lift the team's spirits after a bad result.
They hatched the plan after Russia hit a low in April, losing to Norway -- who did not even make the finals -- for the first time in their history. Yeriklintseva said it was time to show some beautiful Russians to the public.
MORE STRIKING
"Our press publishes a lot of pictures of wives but not of (those married to) Russian soccer players. Most often it's (England captain David's wife) Victoria Beckham...," she said.
"I believe that our girls are considerably more striking and I wanted this to be reflected in the photographs."
Yeriklintseva said the women, who have been allowed to travel to Portugal to see their men, needed little persuasion. Some had worked as models and were used to being photographed but for others it was their first time.
The women are pictured in graceful black and white poses, with nothing but their man's picture to protect their modesty.
"They cover up more than a mini-dress," said Yeriklintseva.
Among those taking part were Russian captain Alexei Smertin's wife Larisa, goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov's wife Inga and defender Vadim Yevseyev's wife Tatyana.
Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondent Svetlana Khrustaleva said some players were reluctant for their partners to pose. But striker Dmitry Bulykin could barely wait for his girlfriend Oksana Kuptsova to strip.
"He was really keen -- he gave a white toothy grin and said: 'Please, Oksana, it will really warm me up.'," Khrustaleva said.
Russia play Spain in their opening Group A game on Saturday in Faro and will also face hosts Portugal and Greece at the tournament that runs until July 4.
You know, those guys look oddly grumpy compared to the women.
I guess it beats the way Stalin use to motivate the players.
Ahh..Yes! Team Spirit! :))
In Russia, men can be grumpy and still loved by their women.
Here is the link to the "slaid shou": http://www.kp.ru/slide/detail/35/.
Many Russian girls are really gorgeous.
Didn't Anna Kournikova used to be married to Sergei Federov?
"Mr. President, we cannot allow a striptease gap!"
Yes, but grumpy next to a nekkid woman?
"Not tonight dear, I'm practicing my stare."
Yep. Now she shacked up with a singer. The rumor says that she was such an airhead that Federov got really turned off.
Many Russian girls are really gorgeous
That's for certain!
those russian women look a lot better than back in the cold war days.
i think they should thank RR.
"Many Russian girls are really gorgeous."
Then what the heck happens to them as they age? Most of them look like they've laying concrete with their faces for forty years. Of course, to be honest, I've seen a few beach bunny types around the states that would freighten Crocodile Dundee and, to be totally truthful, I'm not a handsome prince myself. Ugly does know ugly, though.
They should have used wallet size photos of their men.
I went there and couldn't read a word. Luckily there were a lot of pictures.
Easily half the pole workers at Chicago's "gentlemen's clubs" are Russian chicks.
Or worse.
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