Spalletti flattered by Russia link

Spalletti flattered by Russia link

Zenit St Petersburg boss Luciano Spalletti has claimed he would be happy to coach Russia one day if he is offered the chance.




Luciano Spalletti, Zenit St. Petersburg manager


Spalletti has been suggested as the No. 1 candidate to succeed national team coach Dick Advocaat, whose contract with the Russian Federation expires after Euro 2012.

When asked about those reports in the Russian media, Spalletti said to Italian news agency Ansa: ''I'm happy about that, and proud. It's something I would certainly be interested in.''

Spalletti, 51, joined Zenit in December 2009 and last year led them to the Russian league and cup double. The former Roma coach, who was earlier this season linked with a move to Inter Milan, is under contract with Zenit until June 2012 and is happy at the club.

''They made me feel at home immediately,'' he said. ''We're working well and my team has started playing some great football.''

Russia are top of Euro 2012 qualifying Group B, two points clear of Ireland.

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Russia wins the 2018 World Cup Bid and Qatar will host the WC in 2022

Russia wins the 2018 World Cup Bid and Qatar will host the WC in 2022

The Russian delegation celebrate their appointment as 2018 hosts in Zurich

The 2018 FIFA World Cup finals will be hosted by Russia. The decision was taken by the FIFA Executive Committee in a vote in Zurich today.

Four European candidates – Belgium/Netherlands, England, Portugal/Spain and Russia – were in the running, following a bidding process which began in January 2009. The last FIFA World Cup to be held in Europe took place in Germany in 2006.


Matches are scheduled to be played in: Ekaterinburg, Kaliningrad, Kazan, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Podolsk, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saransk, Sochi, St Petersburg, Volgograd, Yaroslavl and Moscow, where the final will be contested at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Europe was assured of welcoming the 2018 FIFA World Cup on its soil after the withdrawal of the last candidate committee from a non-European association was announced in mid-October. Brazil hosts the finals in 2014.

The 2022 edition will be staged in Qatar following a second vote by the FIFA Executive Committee. Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Qatar and the United States were the five candidates.



"I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Russia," said UEFA president Michel Platini. "The choice was particularly difficult because all of the bids, without exception, were of exceptional quality, as were the presentations made today. It was really professional and we felt a genuine passion from each of the candidates. They would all have deserved to win and UEFA is proud of its six national associations.


"Now, we are all going to support and help Russia, to enable us to experience the finest of World Cups in Europe in 2018. Congratulations as well to Qatar. I am certain that they will also be equal to the task of organising an unforgettable World Cup in 2022."


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The Football Critic - The world of football at your fingertips

The Football Critic - The world of football at your fingertips

Welcome to TFC!

I have experience with football blogging, and decided to start a new and more global soccer news site.

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 We will begin by covering football in England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Romania, Russia, Portugal,  USA, South America, international competitions, and much more. This will include transfer rumours and confirmed/completed transfers, national teams, clubs, cups, prediction leagues and fantasy games, forums, and more.

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