Coach to Quit if Russia Fail World Cup Group Test

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Coach to Quit if Russia Fail World Cup Group Test

Reuters - Coach Oleg Romantsev will quit if Russia fail to progress beyond the first round of next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea, his assistant said on Thursday.

"Russia must qualify for the round of 16 from such (an easy) group, otherwise Romantsev and myself will resign," assistant coach Mikhail Gershkovich told soccer weekly Sovietsky Sport.

"If we don't qualify, we just don't belong at the helm of the national team."

Russia were drawn with World Cup co-hosts Japan, Belgium and Tunisia in group H.

"Probably, for the first time in a long time we have had a favourable draw," Gershkovich said immediately following the December 1 draw in Pusan, South Korea.

Romantsev threatened to resign in October after he guided Russia into the World Cup finals for the first time since 1994.

"It's just a struggle being with the national team and I want to work, not struggle," the coach said after an internal row with federation officials.

Romantsev also coached Russia at the Euro '96 finals in England and resigned after they finished bottom of their first round group.