NEWSLINK: Domestic focus sinks Russia, rings alarms for 2018 World Cup

[“Domestic focus sinks Russia, rings alarms for 2018 World Cup” – Reuters – 6.27.14]

Reuters covers Russia’s soccer (football) woes.

Even as Russia is slated to host the World Cup in 2018, Russian soccer reportedly is not poised to excel.

Ironically, the situation is attributed, in part, to high salaries.

The massive wages paid by Russia’s domestic clubs mean good players tend to spurn the chance to go abroad and improve their skills, a factor which helped trigger an early World Cup exit for the national team.

The failure in Brazil will also raise concerns about the side’s prospects in 2018 when Russia hosts the tournament.

Right now the squad is clearly not good enough to compete at the top level. The Russia players in Brazil lacked ability and class and found it hard to keep hold of the ball.

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