The Russian national team is scheduled to meet at the training camp in the Moscow Region town of Novogorsk on May 30 and the extended roster, which was announced earlier in the day, lists 37 players. Next month the Russian national squad is playing two 2020 Euro Cup qualifiers - against San Marino in Saransk on June 8 and against Cyprus in Nizhny Novgorod on June 11.

MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Stanislav Cherchesov, the head coach of the Russian national football team, said on Tuesday that the number of 37 players on the extended roster for the upcoming two qualifiers of the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup was optimal and the final roster might be announced before May 23.

"We have never publicly announced an extended roster, but since the season is almost over, the footballers must be aware of their current status in the national team," Cherchesov said talking to the press service of the Russian Football Union (RFU).

"This announcement was necessary for the footballers to make plans and be aware that they must be psychologically ready to join the national team," the head coach continued. "The list of 37 names on the [extended] roster is optimal as our previous experience tells us that injuries can happen and we must look into the future to be safe."

"We are still thinking about the date to announce the final roster as we look forward to the final of the Russia Cup on May 22," Cherchesov said. "We will see who will be playing in the final and may announce the final roster either on May 21 or on May 23."

The draw on December 2, 2018 in Dublin determined 10 groups for the qualifying stage. The Russian national team was placed in Group I alongside with the teams from Belgium, Kazakhstan, Scotland, Cyprus and San Marino. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the major European football championship.

The Russian squad is currently 2nd in its Group I with three points after playing two matches - against Belgium on March 21 (losing 1-3) and Kazakhstan on March 24 (winning 4-0).

The national football team from Russia is also scheduled to play two more 2020 UEFA Euro Cup qualifiers in September - against Scotland in Glasgow on September 6 and against Kazakhstan on September 9 in Kaliningrad.

A total of 24 national football teams will be playing in the final tournament of the 2020 Euro Cup. All 55 UEFA national member teams, including 12 teams from the hosting countries, will have to play qualifying matches to vie for the berth in the final 24-team lineup of the quadrennial European football championship.

It is possible that some of the national teams from the hosting countries of the 2020 Euro Cup will not be playing on home soil in case they fail to clear the qualifying stage.