AZERBAIJAN: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Capello 'very happy' after Russia qualify for the World Cup

Record ID: 218343

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Capello 'very happy' after Russia qualify for the World Cup
  • Date: 15th October 2013
  • Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (OCTOBER 15, 2013) (REUTERS) FANS AND POLICE STANDING OUTSIDE SOCCER STADIUM RUSSIA COACH FABIO CAPELLO ARRIVING FOR THE NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RUSSIA COACH, FABIO CAPELLO, SAYING: "I am very happy with the qualification because we faced a strong opponent like Portugal, and because we played good matches. It was just the one ag
  • Embargoed: 30th October 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2DBT1XTIGD6BE7FTP0KMOZ75U
  • Story Text: Russia clinched a place in the 2014 World Cup finals with a 1-1 draw away to Azerbaijan on Tuesday (October 15) thanks to an early goal from Roman Shirokov that secured top spot in Group F and consigned Portugal to the playoffs.
    Coach Fabio Capello said he was pleased his side managed to finish ahead of a Portugal team, which includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, in the group and the Italian was overall content with Russia's qualifying campaign.
    Russia won seven of their 10 games and scored 20 goals in the process but the only low point during qualifying for Capello was a 1-0 loss away to Northern Ireland on Aug. 14 earlier this year.
    "I am very happy with the qualification because we faced a strong opponent like Portugal, and because we played good matches," Capello told reporters at a news conference. "It was just the one against Northern Ireland where we didn't play a good match.
    "I have to say that these qualifiers were very difficult."
    "I will have very good memories, but one terrible memory will be the match, perhaps the only match where we made a mistake, was against Northern Ireland.
    Russia, who have not qualified for the World Cup since 2002, led from the 15th minute on Tuesday when Shirokov found himself one-on-one with keeper Kamran Agayev following Alexander Samedov's superb through ball.
    Shirokov feinted to shoot and as Agayev dropped to one knee the quick-thinking forward steered the ball inside the post.
    Azerbaijan had Maksim Medvedev sent off in the 73rd minute after a tackle on Shirokov but managed to equalise when Vagif Javadov headed past Igor Akinfeev in the 90th minute.
    However, the visitors, who will host the 2018 World Cup finals, held on to secure a ticket to next year's tournament in Brazil.
    World Cup qualifying Group F results and final standings on Tuesday.


    Israel 1
    Northern Ireland 1
    Portugal 3
    Luxembourg 0
    Azerbaijan 1
    Russia 1
    Standings P W D L F A
    Pts Russia* 10 7 1 2 20 5 22 Portugal** 10 6 3 1 20 9 21 Israel 10 3 5 2 19 14 14 Azerbaijan 10 1 6 3 7 11 9 Northern Ireland 10 1 4 5 9 17 7 Luxembourg 10 1 3 6 7 26 6 * Qualified for 2014 World Cup finals ** Qualified for playoffs Previous results: 2012 Sept. 7 Russia 2 Northern Ireland 0 Luxembourg 1 Portugal 2 Azerbaijan 1 Israel 1 Sept. 11 Northern Ireland 1 Luxembourg 1 Israel 0 Russia 4 Portugal 3 Azerbaijan 0 Oct. 12 Russia 1 Portugal 0 Luxembourg 0 Israel 6 Oct. 16 Russia 1 Azerbaijan 0 Portugal 1 Northern Ireland 1 Israel 3 Luxembourg 0 Nov. 14 Northern Ireland 1 Azerbaijan 1 2013 March 22 Luxembourg 0 Azerbaijan 0 Israel 3 Portugal 3 Postponed on March 22 and 23 Northern Ireland v Russia March 26 Northern Ireland 0 Israel 2 Azerbaijan 0 Portugal 2 June 7 Portugal 1 Russia 0 Azerbaijan 1 Luxembourg 1 Aug. 14 Northern Ireland 1 Russia 0 Sept. 6 Russia 4 Luxembourg 1 Northern Ireland 2 Portugal 4 Sept. 7 Israel 1 Azerbaijan 1 Sept. 10 Russia 3 Israel 1 Luxembourg 3 Northern Ireland 2 Oct. 11 Portugal 1 Israel 1 Luxembourg 0 Russia 4 Azerbaijan 2 Northern Ireland 0
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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