"I'm very pleased. Andrey deserves it [being included in the World Cup team], he had a good season after the winter break, he looked very good, and his form was always at a good level. Andrey had doubts whether he would be part of the final 23-man squad, but I told him that he would definitely be included 100 percent," Lediakhov said.

Semenov was part of Russia head coach Stanislav Cherchesov's 23-man squad for this summer's tournament, which was announced by the Russian Football Union on Sunday.

Russia will host its first FIFA World Cup from June 14 to July 15. The host nation will face Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Group A.