Russia can be world champions in 2018: Platini
January 21st, 2012 - 3:07 am ICT by IANSMoscow, Jan 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia’s national football team has what it takes to win its home World Cup in 2018, UEFA president Michel Platini has said.
The world’s most prestigious event is coming to the biggest nation for the first time.
“Russia are capable of winning the World Cup,” Platini said in an interview.
“Russia can accomplish great success at the championships so long as the team is built around strong players.”
Dick Advocaat’s side go into summer’s Euro 2012 with high hopes on the back of a strong performance in qualifying, where they won a close-fought group.
The country is banking on a promising new crop of players to shine at their home event in 2018.
“The results of the home championship will depend primarily on the quality of players at the disposal of the national team, so you really need to focus on the youth, on the 18-20-year-olds. They are the ones who will play a key role at the World Cup,” Platini said.
Russian fans hope youngsters such as CSKA Moscow’s Alan Dzagoev, Lokomotiv’s Roman Shishkin and Spartak Moscow winger Pavel Yakovlev can ensure a smooth generational change from the old guard of Sergei Ignashevich, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Andrei Arshavin, who have formed the backbone of the squad for years.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm
- Russia launches anti-racism football taskforce - Mar 22, 2012
- 200 football fans detained in Moscow - Jun 19, 2011
- Russian boxer banned for doping - Apr 05, 2012
- Russian football players asked to fix matches: Report - Feb 08, 2012
- Russia's first: Woman referee to officiate men's match - Mar 22, 2012
- 'Russia can survive without Arshavin' - May 29, 2012
- Russia plans to host 2018 FIFA World Cup in 13 cities - May 07, 2011
- FIFA allocates $699 mn for Russia 2018 - Apr 05, 2012
- Putin asks Abramovich to 'open his wallet' to help fund 2018 World Cup - Dec 05, 2010
- Beer may return to Russian stadiums: Putin - Jan 20, 2012
- Zenit take Russia Premier League title - May 14, 2012
- 'We'll restore ice hocky team lost in plane crash' - Sep 09, 2011
- Putin urges fans to help tourists at World Cup - Jan 20, 2012
- Russia to ban laser pointers during football matches - Nov 08, 2011
- Russia allocates $19 mn more for sports infrastructure - Nov 16, 2011
Tags: cska moscow, dick advocaat, euro 2012, generational change, high hopes, jan 21, key role, lokomotiv, michel platini, national football team, pavel yakovlev, prestigious event, ria novosti russia, russian fans, shishkin, spartak moscow, time russia, uefa, winger, world champions