Football First, Drink Later

Oct. 4, 2011

Dick Advocaat, coach of the national football team, will allow his players to go on a drinking binge next week if they qualify for the Euro 2012 finals.

"[Next] Tuesday evening they can drink as much as they want," the Dutchman said Tuesday ahead of a decisive qualifier in Slovakia on Friday.

Russia, which leads second-place Ireland by two points, will then host last-place Andorra in their final match on Tuesday. Two years ago, the media accused some of the national squad of drinking and smoking hookah ahead of a World Cup playoff tie in Slovenia.

The players vigorously denied the accusations, with the Berezutsky brothers, Vasily and Alexei, taking their battle to court to clear their names.

(Reuters)

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