Vyacheslav Koloskov: “I will go to Qatar and discuss our situation”

— Vyacheslav Ivanovich, why not in Qatar?

– Invited to the semifinals and finals. Then I’ll go.

– Traditionally, as an honored guest, at the expense of FIFA?

– It’s like that.

– Are there many more “honorary” ones like you?

– No, only the Europeans remained from the former composition of the executive committee. In addition to me, there are former colleagues from Belgium, Turkey and Cyprus.

How many times have you been in this capacity?

– Only in the second, after Russia. Before that, he always worked in tournaments. Often managed clusters of teams from the same group. They also paid per diem back then.

– And in total, what kind of world championship will this be for you?

– Since 1982 in Spain, when I first headed our delegation and entered the FIFA Executive Committee, I have not missed a single one. Here, consider. Turns out it’s eleven.

How do you like the opening match?

I read the reports today and was amazed. Opponents are not the same, they say, the game is boring, something else is wrong – everywhere there is some kind of grump. And for me it’s very decent football, on the one hand, for sure. 60 thousand at the stadium, relaxed atmosphere, all in shorts, T-shirts, posters with any slogans. And football is not at all cautious, as it happens in such cases. From the first minutes, no reconnaissance. Immediately three tackles in a row, collisions, cards – fire! Remember our opening match four years ago. Yes, it was 5-0 with Saudi Arabia, but the game did not look like that.

– Did you expect such an easy and confident victory for Ecuador?

— I confess, no. I thought it would be a much tougher fight. Qatar won the Asian Cup, prepared in all respects very carefully.

– So much so that the stars of Xavi’s level were paid crazy money for the transfer of experience, and all the players of the national team were “locked” in the local league.

– Guys burned out. Such a stir, the emir on the podium …

– With my much more meager luggage, I can’t remember when the hosts conceded in the opening match so meekly. And you?

– Also no. Two reasons – jitters and a much higher level of performance skills of the opponent.

– That is, all the money for the preparation of the national team goes into the sand of the Arabian Desert?

I don’t want to judge by one game. Perhaps emotions prevailed – the people are hot.

– Only 11 hits for the entire match from both sides – this is generally an anti-record. Isn’t it a trend for the whole tournament?

– It would seem that the game is open, but there are very few scoring chances. Qatar never hit the target. And there is nothing to complain about. The weather is great, not hot. They didn’t even stop the game at the technical watering place. The hosts defended with numbers, their opponent with skill.

– The organization, they say, was terrible. The journalists could not get out of the stadium for three hours.

“I can’t say anything here. I’ll come and see.

— Why is the main stadium in the desert, away from Doha? Who builds like that?

– There is desert everywhere, whatever you want. I flew to Sochi this year to play football, so I drove from the airport to the Fisht stadium for an hour and a half. This is Sochi, and then the Arabian Peninsula.

– Starting Tuesday, we will have a marathon with four daily matches. From the meeting Argentina – Saudi Arabia expect surprises?

– Not. The Argentines are rightfully among the top three favorites, along with the Brazilians and the French. I am sure that these teams will avoid the failure that happened to the reigning world champions, the Germans, four years ago. I do not expect defeat, but three points will not be missed.

– Mexico – Poland from the same group C?

– I bet on the Latin Americans, although the teams are approximately equal. But I judge by the fact that the Mexicans participate in almost all world championships, they always play consistently, they don’t fall below a certain bar. Although we know the Polish players better, that’s how I feel.

Group D is opened by Denmark and Tunisia. Stanislav Cherchesov admitted to me yesterday that he rates the Danes very highly. Do you agree?

– Fully. One of the best teams in the championship. There is no reason to believe that he will misfire at the start.

France is shocked by the loss of the best player in the world, Benzema. Will this shock prevent you from beating Australia?

– Definitely not. And for all their problems, the reigning world champions will go far.

– Do you intend to tire yourself in Qatar with something other than pleasant meetings and watching matches?

I have already been there several times, so I will refrain from excursions. They invited me to falconry, but you have to go there with your bird, otherwise there is no point. In general, I’m more into fishing.

Are you planning business meetings?

– Yes, I will communicate with people from the FIFA Council, discuss our situation.

– What exactly?

– And a total ban, and a separate topic of accepting Crimean and other clubs in the Russian championship. I suspect that many in FIFA have not even heard of this problem. I will try to convey our position. Without pressure, of course, but such sports and political communication will definitely take place.

– With FIFA President Infantino too?

– This is the prerogative of Dyukov, our chief official. I know that the RFU delegation is already in Qatar. I can just meet with him, talk on abstract topics. Unless, of course, he is in another hotel and at least sometimes leaves the emir’s box. I will not specifically catch Gianni.

– How do you like his speech, that he, they say, feels himself an Arab and a gay at the same time? For me, it’s pure populism.

– It’s figurative. He simply emphasized that everyone is equal at the World Championships and there is no need to oppose one to the other.

– Do you really think that football can be out of politics, especially in Qatar?

The slogan remains.