Coach Advocaat proud of Russia despite Euro exit

Warsaw, June 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian football coach Dick Advocaat is proud of his players despite the team being knocked out of Euro 2012 in his last game in charge, he said Sunday.

Greece scored the only goal of the game in the 45th minute when Sergei Ignashevich misjudged the flight of the ball on a Greek throw-in, allowing Sotiris Karagounis a one-on-one chance against goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Combined with the Czech Republic’s 1-0 win over Poland, the result was enough to send the Czechs and Greeks through from Group A at Russia’s expense.

When asked whether he was still proud, Advocaat replied: “Proud, yes.”

He added that he was not concerned by how the result could reflect on his time as Russia coach.

Former Rangers coach Advocaat is now return to his native Netherlands to take over at PSV Eindhoven.