After scoring two goals for St. Petersburg's Zenit against Moscow's Dinamo in the Russian cup final, and then scoring two goals for the national team against France, forward Alexander Panov has achieved sudden star status. Fans and sports commentators both want to believe that finally, after more than a decade, Russia has got itself a new world class forward.

RJ: Why does Russia seem to have such a problem finding good forwards?

Alexander Panov: Why do you say that? There are people like [Spartak Moscow's] Andrei Tikhonov and [Alaniya Vladi-kavkaz's] Georgy Demetradze. Although, it's true, things aren't going well when it comes to scoring goals.

RJ: But why did a legendary forward like Oleg Blokhin, for example, score goals at virtually every match, while today's forwards just don't seem to be up to it?

AP: Things were different in Blokhin's time; soccer has changed since then. Today, the emphasis is more on defense. It's always easier to destroy rather than to create. Defenders are playing more closely with the forwards, not giving them room to move. These days, it's often the halfbacks and defenders who score the goals. Soon, even the goalkeepers will start scoring! Forwards play a less active game now. Then again, some players just have bad luck.

RJ: Some sports psychologists say that it's the Russian mentality that is to blame. Russians have always been more active in destroying than creating, and scoring a goal is the outcome of a creative process.

AP: There's probably some truth in that. It's easy to destroy - that's why all the clubs are concentrating on building up their defense now. The logic is that all you have to do is never let the ball through your lines, and at some point you'll break through the rivals' lines. But I think that offensive soccer will return.

RJ: A thought on why defenders score more often: Is it because there's such pressure on the forwards to score, while the defender is supposed to prepare the ground for attack and pass the ball on, thus being more relaxed and able to grab the opportunities to score?

AP: There's a certain logic in that. There is a lot of psychological pressure when you go out onto the field and everyone is expecting you to score a goal. You desperately want to score, but your legs don't obey. That's why you need to have leaders on every front: If the attack doesn't work, someone has to take over and provide back up.

RJ: Do you think that being a "goal machine" is an innate talent, or is it something you learn through training?

AP: Everything starts to become clear from a young age. When you first start kicking the ball around, the trainer has to make the "right diagnosis," see what you're good at, what you should be doing on the field. It's usually clear who's a better defender and who should be attacking. But the trainer has to direct you, because a kid can't always see what he should be doing. Usually everyone wants to be a forward and players don't suspect that maybe they'd make better halfbacks or defenders. And then nature plays its part - you're usually born an attacker.

RJ: What kind of qualities does a good forward need?

AP: You have to have plenty of determination and the will to reach your objective. You need to be stubborn and you need some aggressiveness, because the defenders don't give you any breaks. You can't relax, you have to keep up the pressure. But you can't be aggressive off the field.

RJ: What kind of character do you have? You're aggressive enough on the field, does that come out in other situations?

AP: No, I'm a calm, non-confrontational kind of person. Why be on edge all the time and ruin my health?

RJ: But Sergei Yuran, for example, is a prickly fellow both on and off the field. He's always fighting with the referees and his fellow players.

AP: Sergei had his own problems, that was why he was like that. When I was on the team with him, our relations were fine. Yes, he can be emotional, but he's not after scandals. He just reacts sharply to things. I don't argue with referees or teammates because I don't see the point. And I don't feel hostility toward my rivals - we're all in the same game, after all.

RJ: When you're close to the goal posts and you see an opportunity, do you have time to think what to do, or do you just switch to automatic pilot?

AP: If there's time, of course I think how best to act, but if not, I just act intuitively.

RJ: A lot of people think that soccer is all in the feet and that the head is not so important.

AP: That's nonsense. Soccer is a thinking game - players have to have something in their heads. The head is most important, the legs only obey its commands.

RJ: You said a lot depends on the trainer when young. How did you end up being a striker?

AP: I just instinctively went ahead. I liked to strike and no one could persuade me to be anything but a forward.

RJ: But you're not exactly the image of a forward - these days it's big strong types who are in favor.

AP: Maybe the trainers thought I would grow, but it didn't happen. It doesn't bother me. The only difficulty is finding the right-sized shoes. Going to Detsky Mir [a Moscow children's department store] would feel a bit odd, so I buy my shoes abroad.

RJ: Have you ever had to make sacrifices for soccer?

AP: I've had to sacrifice almost everything: girls, nightclubs, cinema... But I don't regret it - everything has turned out for the best and I've found a profession which enables me both to feed my family and to do what I love doing. I'm happy to be playing soccer rather than, say, working in a factory.

RJ: What is more important in soccer, mind or muscle?

AP: Plenty of teams at the moment are trying to attract strong, tall players, hoping that they'll somehow learn the technique later. But I think the future still lies in creative soccer that draws on thinking and technique. We don't want soccer to turn into American football.

RJ: What's most difficult about soccer?

AP: It's hard to be objective about a match. Even when we win, I try and analyze my play, try and find the mistakes so that I'll play even better next time. I'm almost never satisfied with myself. I don't yet have the stability that is a mark of real class.

RJ: How did you end up in China?

AP: I was a reserve for the Zenit club when I learned that the Chinese club Baobang was interested in me. They offered decent money and then there was the chance to visit Asia. China taught me a lot, it's not easy to live for a whole year in a foreign country. The Chinese put the emphasis on physical strength and I had to adapt. We had two training sessions a day in 40 degree heat. There's no denying that the Chinese have an incredible work ethic.

RJ: How did they treat you?

AP: We got on fantastically and I have a lot of friends there now. I got to try Chinese cooking and see Shanghai.

RJ: After the goals you scored for Zenit in the Russian cup final and during the Euro 2000 selection match against France, you've got the fans' attention. Is that a source of added pressure or is it a source of motivation?

AP: It's harder to play when the whole country is watching; you feel such a lot of responsibility. I can make mistakes like anyone, but now, people seem to expect miracles from me. I want to prove I deserve my place on the national team, but I know I've still got a lot to learn. Becoming famous is the toughest test. The main thing is to remember that fate is fickle: Today you're a king, tomorrow you're nobody. When things get rough, you just have to keep going: There's no backing out in soccer.