Capello feted for russia’s top form

Published on 14/10/2012 04:15

RUSSIA coach Fabio Capello has been hailed as a saviour by the nation’s media after the Italian masterminded the team’s transformation following a dismal showing at Euro 2012.

“Russian Catenaccio!” read a front-page headline in Saturday’s leading sports daily Sport-Express in reference to the tactical system with a strong emphasis on defence traditionally associated with Italian football.

Russia beat Group F favourites Portugal 1-0 on Friday to maintain their perfect start in their World Cup qualifying campaign under Capello with three wins from three matches without conceding a goal. “A dream start! Three victories at the beginning of a qualifying cycle – when did we enjoy such a start? Only once – in qualifying for the 1994 World Cup,” the Sport-Express report said. “Our team played a tight game with emphasis on defence. They were able to contain [Portugal captain] Cristiano Ronaldo and once again kept their goal clean.”

Another sports daily, Sovietsky Sport, said Russia’s win was good revenge for a 7-1 defeat by Portugal in a 2006 World Cup qualifier in Lisbon eight years ago.

“We paid them back for 7-1 – the most humiliating defeat in our football history,” the paper wrote.