Hard work starts now for Russia

RUSSIA basked in the limelight yesterday as the future first-time host of the World Cup in 2018, but media questioned how the country will pay the bill which they said could reach €37 billion.

Vladimir Putin radiated confidence as he descended on Zurich for a news conference, portraying Russia as a country on the upturn.

“When FIFA makes a decision, FIFA members think of the political conditions in the country. We have a stable political situation,” he said.