PORTUGAL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manager Fabio Capello says he will go all out for win despite draw strengthening Russia's standing in World Cup qualifying Group F

Record ID: 859368

  • Title: PORTUGAL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manager Fabio Capello says he will go all out for win despite draw strengthening Russia's standing in World Cup qualifying Group F
  • Date: 6th June 2013
  • Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (JUNE 06, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIA PLAYERS RUNNING RUSSIA COACH FABIO CAPELLO DURING TRAINING SESSION (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RUSSIA COACH, FABIO CAPELLO, SAYING: "When I come on to the pitch it's never thinking about playing for a draw but always to win. If the opponent forces me to play defensively it is because they are stronger and I will defend. But if I have the possibility to attack I do so, it's not part of my mentality to play around with the maths." PLAYERS RUNNING GOALKEEPER VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RUSSIA COACH, FABIO CAPELLO, SAYING: "Portugal play an important match just like us. There are many points still being disputed and it is still not crunch time, calling it life or death I think is a bit exaggerated. But I think it is an important match for both that's for sure and I think that when the teams enter the pitch they will be battling hard." RUSSIA PLAYERS RUNNING / CAPELLO PLAYING WITH BALL PLAYERS RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIA MIDFIELDER, IGOR DENISOV, SAYING: "We are not relaxed just because we are in a better position, we are focused and want to go into the match to win." PLAYERS STRETCHING GOALKEEPER
  • Embargoed: 21st June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal
  • City:
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAZCGJH9ZNDNEEC5P746RXGT4T
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  • Story Text: Russia will not approach Friday's World Cup qualifier with Portugal any differently despite holding all the aces in Group F.
    Fabio Capello's outfit have four wins from four, and are a point clear of both Israel and Portugal with two games in hand.
    But the Italian said he was not intending to settle for just a point from the meeting in Lisbon.

    "When I come on to the pitch it's never thinking about playing for a draw but always to win," he said.

    "If the opponent forces me to play defensively it is because they are stronger and I will defend. But if I have the possibility to attack I do so, it's not part of my mentality to play around with the maths."
    Capello, who will be without injured forward Alexander Kokorin, hailed his team's good start to the qualifying campaign but said the job was far from done.

    "Portugal play an important match just like us," he said.

    "There are many points still being disputed and it is still not crunch time, calling it life or death I think is a bit exaggerated. But I think it is an important match for both that's for sure and I think that when the teams enter the pitch they will be battling hard."
    While the Portuguese players are being urged to wait a few more days before enjoying some relaxation, some of Russian players were shown by Russian media last week to be smoking and drinking together on a night out.

    "We are not relaxed just because we are in a better position, we are focused and want to go into the match to win," said midfielder Igor Denisov as he played down the incident.
    The group winners qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Brazil, while the eight best runners-up will go through a play-off over two legs for the remaining four places.
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