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Capello sure of Russia future

CURITIBA, Brazil - Fabio Capello has vowed to lead host Russia to the World Cup in 2018 despite seeing his second campaign as a World Cup coach end with another disappointing exit on Thursday.

A 1-1 draw with Algeria in Curitiba saw the Russians fall at the group stage for a third consecutive World Cup. They return home with just two points and two goals to their name while group winners Belgium and Algeria advance.

However, the highest paid coach at the World Cup, who signed a new lucrative deal until 2018 in January, insisted he intends to see out that deal.

"As long as they still want me, I will stay," said the Italian.

Capello has now won just once in seven matches at the World Cup as he also oversaw England's poor showing in South Africa four years ago which ended with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany.

Yet, he defended his record in charge of England and said merely making it to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years represented progress with an eye to the 2018 World Cup.

"With England we went to the round of 16. I qualified England to play in the European Championships and the World Cup and the figures I got with their national team were respectable.

"With this team we got to a World Cup for first time 12 years. I think I have done a pretty good job so far and it is unfortunate we didn't go through."

When asked what he could have done better as a coach over the past month, Capello preferred to blame refereeing decisions and the fact that Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev appeared to have been distracted by a laser pen shone in his face seconds before the Algerian equaliser than provide some self-criticism.

However, having seen poor defensive and goalkeeping mistakes cost his side in all three games, Capello repeated his call for more of Russia's best players to play abroad.

Russia's was the only squad on show in Brazil where all 23 players play in the domestic league and Capello believes that leads to a lack of experience and maturity on the international stage.

"You see when you play matches in international competitions you get a lot of experience which can help you mature. It instills great competitiveness.

"We never learn those lessons because we only play against one another."

Capello was also left with one crumb of comfort, though, as his side signed off in Curitiba, claiming that he had been part of the best World Cup he has ever witnessed.

"I think in my career I have never seen a World Cup of this level. It is the highest level I have ever seen.

"The pace is extremely intense, the quality is excellent and this is absolutely a great World Cup."

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