- Title: Host Russia get ready for tough Mexico clash
- Date: 23rd June 2017
- Summary: KAZAN, RUSSIA (JUNE 23, 2017) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN SOCCER TEAM COMING OUT ON PITCH FORMER RUSSIAN SPORTS MINISTER, VITALY MUTKO SURROUNDED BY TEAM STAFF VARIOUS OF TEAM JOGGING CONFEDERATIONS CUP SIGN ON SCREEN RUSSIAN TEAM COACH STANISLAV CHERCHESOV PLAYING WITH SOCCER BALL VARIOUS OF COACH WALKING ON PITCH AS PLAYERS WARM UP PLAYERS EXERCISE GOALKEEPER PRACTICING WIDE OF STADIUM VARIOUS OF PLAYERS PRACTICING ON PITCH WIDE OF STADIUM RUSSIAN SOCCER TEAM ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN TEAM COACH, STANISLAV CHERCHESOV, SAYING: "We respect the Mexican team, we know how they play. They played well in the last two games. So we expect an interesting match. We are aware of what exactly we have to do. The Mexicans have options (to lose or to win), and we do not have such options. On the one hand it is good. But on the other hand we need to understand what we should do tomorrow." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN TEAM COACH, STANISLAV CHERCHESOV, SAYING: "You spoke about (previous) championships - what is the difference between those tournaments and this one now? I will put it short. (Defender Viktor) Vasin and Cherchesov were not present at those tournaments - he as a player and me as a coach. This is the first difference. The second difference is that we are playing at home. And the third difference we will try to show tomorrow. MEDIA TEAM LEAVING
- Embargoed: 7th July 2017 20:37
- Keywords: Russia football Russian soccer team Stanislav Cherchesov Russia v Mexico
- Location: KAZAN, RUSSIA
- City: KAZAN, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016MI02TB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian soccer team coach Stanislav Cherchesov was optimistic on Friday (June 23) about the upcoming game against Mexico.
Russia, third in Group A behind Mexico and Portugal, need to beat the Mexicans in their final group stage match on Saturday in Kazan to advance to the semi-finals.
A loss for Russia would eliminate them from the tournament, viewed as a warm-up for the World Cup finals it will host next year.
Russia made a strong start, convincingly beating New Zealand 2-0 in the tournament's opening match in St Petersburg.
But Cherchesov's squad lost 1-0 to Portugal on Wednesday, a precise header by Cristiano Ronaldo giving his team a 1-0 victory and spoiling Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev's 100th cap.
Cherchesov dismissed the idea that another defeat would derail his team's preparations for the World Cup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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