‘I didn’t like working with Advocaat’ – Izmailov

Get short URL

Published time: June 17, 2012 14:10
Edited time: June 17, 2012 18:10

Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov has let his frustration with Euro 2012 failure by saying some harsh words about national team’s coach, Dick Advocaat.

­“I don’t want to speak for the whole team. But I didn’t enjoy working with Advocaat,” Izmailov told Sport 1 channel.

“I didn’t like him both as a person and as a coach,” he added.

Izmailov made two appearances for Russia at Euro 2012, coming on as a substitute against Poland and in the 1-0 defeat to Greece on Saturday, which did not allow the national side to qualify for the playoffs.

“I don’t know what happened,” the 29-year-old said. “We were all well motivated for the game. We trained in the same way as before the match with the Czech Republic (4-1) and Poland (1-1). It’s hard to tell what went wrong. But – on behalf of our entire team – I’d like to thank the fans for their great support.”

Ironically, it was Advocaat, who returned the Sporting Lisbon player to the national team before Euro 2012, after a break of nearly six years’ absence.