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Soccer-World-Russia coach Romantsev defends World Cup
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MOSCOW, June 17 (Reuters) - Russia coach Oleg Romantsev says he has no regrets and nothing to reproach his team about after their elimination from the World Cup.
Russia beat Tunisia 2-0 in their opening match, but failed to qualify for the next round after going down 1-0 to Japan and 3-2 to Belgium.
Romantsev, 48, announced his resignation immediately following Russia's first-round exit.
"I have nothing to reproach my players about," Romantsev was quoted as saying in Monday's Sovietsky Sport newspaper, his first public comments since their elimination.
"I have no regrets. I chose the best players available and everyone played up to his abilities.
"It was the best they could have done. The same goes for me as well. It was the best I could have managed this team."
Russian media poured scorn on Romantsev, accusing him among other things of "cowardly defensive tactics" against Belgium, a game which Russia needed only to draw to progress.
But Romantsev said: "I did everything right. We all make small mistakes in everyday life, but I don't think there were any major errors on my part."
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