Russian ramps up pressure on coach Capello

Jun 27, 2015 - 1:09 PM Russia's sport minister Vitaly Mutko has further increased the pressure on national football coach Fabio Capello by saying it would be a "disaster" if the side failed to qualify for Euro 2016.

"If we do not do it, it would be a catastrophe," Mutko told Russian state television on Saturday.

The hosts of the 2018 World Cup, Russia lost their last European qualifier 1-0 at home to Austria and are currently third in Group G.

The match against Sweden on September 5 likely must be won to retain any chance of automatic qualification.

Mutko again said that sacking Capello was an option but that step would require Russia to pay out the 69-year-old Italian's contract, valid to 2018, in full. Unconfirmed reports have said Capello earns nearly eight million dollars a year.

Many fans and critics in Russia complain Capello has not been able to adapt his tactics to modern football while his backers retort he does not have the players available to allow him to do so.

Source: AAP