Akinfeev was named Russia captain after the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals draw in December and was included in the country's preliminary squad for this summer's tournament on May 11.

"I wouldn't say that it is tougher to captain a team as a goalkeeper. Everyone listens to him [Akinfeev]. He manages the team both on and off the pitch. He is a true captain," Stauce told journalists.

The coach added that they were not only working on the physical condition of the goalkeepers, but also on the mental side of their games.

"Goalkeepers always feel a lot of pressure. They get used to it. We have four goalkeepers just in case something happens. We chose these keepers to ensure there was a good bond as well as having healthy competition within the squad," he said.

Vladimir Gabulov, Soslan Dzhanayev and Andrey Lunev are the other three goaltenders currently training with the Russia squad in Austria ahead of the World Cup.

Russia is set to host its first-ever FIFA World Cup at 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi, from June 14 to July 15. The host nation will face Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay in Group A.