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| July 03, 2008 | Thursday | Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1429 |
Medvedev hails Russia’s performance in Euro 2008
MEIENDORF CASTLE (Russia), July 2: Russia’s success in reaching the semi-finals of the Euro 2008 soccer tournament is a mark of its revival off the pitch, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
“This is a great sporting achievement,” Medvedev told the team’s players and Dutch coach Guus Hiddink at a reception at a state residence outside Moscow.
“Russia has focused its energies and attacked on all fronts.
A weak state very rarely achieves anything, not only in industry, ensuring its security ... but also in sport.”Russia’s performance at the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland, which ended on Sunday, was its best showing in a major soccer tournament in 20 years.
Russia has enjoyed an oil-fuelled economic boom that has encouraged its leaders to try to reassert Moscow’s political and economic clout abroad.
“You gave the whole country great joy just from watching you play. We waited for such success for a very long time,” said Medvedev, who was presented with a team shirt by the players.—Reuters
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