Portugal will settle for draw against Russia: Alves

DONETSK, UKRAINE – JUNE 27: Bruno Alves of Portugal hits the woodwork during the UEFA EURO 2012 semi final match between Portugal and Spain at Donbass Arena on June 27, 2012 in Donetsk, Ukraine.

Moscow, Oct 7 – Portugal defender Bruno Alves said his team will settle for a draw in their World Cup football qualifier against Russia next week.

The teams with two wins out of two in Group F clash in Moscow next Friday.

Alves, who plays for Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg and has been called into Paulo Bento’s squad for the game at Luzhniki, says a point will be a positive result for the Euro 2012 semi-finalists. He told R-Sport:

“A possible draw against Russia in Moscow is a good result for Portugal. We’ll be the away side, and Russia have strengthened a strong squad of quality, decent footballers.”

The 30-year-old center-back said “bright times” had come for Russia, despite the failure of Dick Advocaat’s highly fancied side to get out of their group at Euro 2012.

Italian coach Fabio Capello took over from Advocaat after his contract with Russia expired on July 1.

Alves insisted, however, that victory was possible in Moscow.

“It will be hard to beat Fabio Capello’s team, but I am counting on a win.”

The teams will also meet in Portugal June 7 next year, a match the defender said would go further to determining the fate of the group.

“We’ll have a lot of the qualification round behind us by then, and there will only be a few games left. You can’t call the match in Moscow decisive … there will be time to rectify the situation in the event of a bad result.”

Bruno Alves joined Zenit in 2010, helping the team to back-to-back titles with 57 league appearances. He has five goals in 55 games for Portugal.