Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan's national soccer team hopes for the best when it faces Russia on Tuesday, October 16, in Moscow.

The Azerbaijani team could become the first team to kick a goal in a match with Russia in the current qualifying leg of the2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, Azerbaijan coach Berti Vogts said at a press conference in Moscow on Monday.

The Azerbaijani team will play for a victory in its match against Russia, Vogts said.

"Russia is a very strong team and under Fabio Capello they have taken a significant step forward," he said.

In turn, Russia coach Capello said that the Azerbaijani team is a rival that deserves respect.

"We have to come to the pitch and predetermine the match result from the first minutes...from the very start we have to play confident, aggressive football to show the opponent our serious intentions," Capello said.

According to Azerbaijani defender Mahir Shukurov, Azerbaijan may have more goal chances in the match with Russia than Portugal did.

"Russia played defensive counterattacking football with Portugal, but with us they will try for an early goal, which will open up their defense. The team can make more goal opportunities if it quickly switches from defense to counterattacks," Shukurov said.

The Azerbaijani team has drawn one and lost one out of two games played in Group F, with a 0:3 defeat in an away match with Portugal, while a point was gained by drawing with Israel 1-1 at home.

Russia, in contrast, won all three qualifying games, with the latest played against Portugal on Friday night, which ended in 1-0 score.

The match between the Azerbaijani and Russian national teams will take place in Luzhniki Olympic Complex at 7 p.m. local time. The 85,000-seat stadium may host 50,000 fans for the game, according to the Russian team's press-attache Ilya Kazakov. According to Russia's Sport.ru website, over 30,000 tickets have already been sold.