Russia to Host 2018 World Cup


It only took 80 years.

The world’s biggest party and football event is finally coming to the motherland.

Although FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s speech prior to announcing the winners seemingly took even longer, it only took one word from his mouth to electrify a nation quickly entering a deep winter freeze. Russia! Rossiya! As many were coming home from work all around the country, the bear awoke from his hibernation to a chorus of chants and horns with the joyous news.

The news, which was announced a week ago(at this point), can only be good for the future of Russia and it’s brand of football. The Russian league is slowly but surely becoming more recognizable throughout the Europe whether by selling off players to more popular teams or fairing well in European Club competition in 2005 and 2008 clinching the UEFA cup. Now with the right to host soccer’s marquee tournament and quite possibly the world’s biggest sporting event it will help the Russian youth and their future soccer.
Read more…

Sbornaya Denies Lucky Irish in Dublin


CSKA’s Alan Dzagoev scores his first international goal (championat.ru)

New manager Dick Advocaat’s run with the Russian team has not exactly gone according to plan so far. An unconvincing 2-0 win over Andorra to begin Euro 12 qualification followed by a horror loss at the Lokomotiv Stadium to Slovakia has given fans and players alike more than enough reason to be concerned. But looking to quickly erase all memories from a month ago, the Sbornaya hit the road for a 1,700 mile journey across the European continent to Dublin.

Facing them would be an Irish squad who had been playing with chips on their shoulders the size of Ireland itself since being denied a handball against France. The Sbornaya would be without star striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, so Aleksandr Kerzhakov would be able to rejoin the national team.

Read more…