Russia “needs” World Cup more than rivals – Mutko 18/11/2010 |
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Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko believes his country needs the 2018 World Cup more than any of its rivals.
Mutko admitted that Russia faces "very tough competition" from England and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands.
But he said it needs the World Cup more than its Western European rivals to make it a “real football country”.
"There's a certain philosophy in Fifa – to open new frontiers and broaden the horizons," Mutko, who also sits on Fifa’s executive board, told Reuters.
"Soccer is the world's most popular sport, therefore it must leave a long-lasting legacy for a World Cup host," he added, pointing to this year's event in South Africa. "I think from that point of view, Russia has a big edge over its rivals.
"There's no denying that England has all the football tradition, the infrastructure, stadiums etc, but it has already hosted a World Cup [in 1966].
"Spain is a beautiful country, it won the last World Cup but it also hosted one [in 1982]. Belgium and Netherlands also staged a major event [co-hosting Euro 2000] recently.
"On the other hand, Russia – or the whole of Eastern Europe for that matter – has never hosted a World Cup. And we need one in order to improve our infrastructure, to build the stadiums, to make us a real football country. This is what it's all about."
But Mutko conceded that Russia also had its shortcomings.
"We have our minuses, just like all the other candidates," he said. "Our risk zones are the [insufficient] infrastructure, transport and [lack of modern] hotels and airports.
"But Russia is a dynamic country with huge economic potential and no one should have any doubt that everything would be built on time."
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