Dutch trainer for the Russian national football team Dick Advocaat hopes Russia will eventually win the right to host the 2018 World Cup, Sovetsky Sport newspaper said on Monday.
"I hope that we will win the right to host the Cup. It will give a significant boost to the development of football in the country. I am sure that such a huge country has a lot of talent," Advocaat said.
England, Portugal and Spain (jointly), Belgium and the Netherlands (jointly) are the other candidates bidding for the right to host the Cup.
"[Dmitry] Medvedev and [Vladimir] Putin are interested in the development of football... That is why I look forward for Thursday and for FIFA's decision," he said.
FIFA will choose the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups on December 2 in Switzerland's Zurich.
In mid-August, FIFA inspectors visited Russia to see the country for themselves. They attended the bidding committee's presentations and toured four cities to inspect stadiums.
MOSCOW, November 29 (RIA Novosti)
