According to Fabio Capello, head coach of the Russian national team, there are some stadiums in the world which have a force of gravity and “Maracana” is one of them. Capello made this statement at the press conference before the match against Belgium. Vasili Berezutski, captain of the Russian national team, also attended the press conference. The FIFA spokesman asked journalists first to put questions to Berezutski. By the way, Capello had problems with simultaneous translation and his headphones were changed twice. He strongly demanded to translate the first question of Berezutski into Italian.
- The Belgian head coach criticized you and stated the Russian national team played statically against South Korea.
Vasili Berezutski: “Hopefully, we will respond to him by playing”.
- What did you tell Akinfeev when he was scored goal against South Korea?
Vasili Berezutski: “Akinfeev is an experienced goalkeeper. Everybody makes such mistakes. I told me to stand up because we had to score a responsive goal”.
- Can you tell us how much pressure is on the team?
Berezutski: “We have all playing conditions. We feel responsibility toward our country. There was a psychological pressure in the first match but everything is alright now”.
- You will play one on one with Romelu Lukaku. What can you say about this fact?
Berezutski: “We do not play against someone personally. The whole team defends itself. There are lots of “stars” in the Belgian national team. Lukaku is a good player”.
- Your colleague Vincent Kompany stated “Maracana” is a special stadium and it is a great honor to play there…
Berezutski: “Maracana” is a double of “Luzhniki” stadium. It just does not have runways. I have not felt anything unreal”.
- Many fans mentioned you did not thank them for their support after the match against South Korea…
Fabio Capello: “It is not true. We went to the middle of the stadium and thanked fans. When you write something, you must rely on facts”.
Berezutski: “We thanked everybody”.
- Are you surprised that England is eliminated from the tournament? Has the team worsened since you left?
Capello: “I do not want to talk about the past and the team which is in tough situation. I respect everybody. The numbers speak for themselves”.
- What do you think about “Maracana”?
Capello: “This stadium has a force of gravity. “San Siro” is the same in Italy, “Wembley” and “Santiago Bernabeu” – in Europe and “Maracana” – in the world.
- What can you say about the Italian national team?
Capello: “I wish Italy good luck, however, not as a head coach of the Russian national team but as a citizen of Italy”.
- What can you say about the Belgian national team?
Capello: “This team surprised everybody in the qualifying round. It is balanced and strong team which has technical football players. They perform free and corner kicks dangerously. However, I believe in my team”.
- Is England in tough situation because there are lots of legionaries in Premier League? But Premier League helped the Belgians.
Capello: “Belgium has good football players who play abroad. They gain experience in Premier League. When I was a head coach of the English national team I talked a lot about legionaries. Local players are only 32 per cent in Premier League”.
- Who will be a goalkeeper – Akinfeev or you do not trust him anymore?
Capello: “Akinfeev will stay. He is a great goalkeeper, one of the best in the world”.
- What do you think about the level of World Cup?
Capello: “I am positively surprised by its high level. It is tough to play any team. Coaches have prepared well. You must do your best in every game”.
- What problems have you faced while working in foreign country?
Capello: “The biggest problem was communication with the team. I was lucky to have an interpreter who speaks Italian fluently”.
- Will Belgian coach have the same career as you?
Capello: “He is doing incredible things. As I remember, Belgium always has good players”.


Lasha Tabagari, special correspondent of worldsport.ge from Rio de Janeiro
Photos by the author