PORTUGAL IN 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER#
KIEV, October 26 (RIA Novosti) - Vladimir Putin has described as tragic Russia's loss to Portugal in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, 7-1. The event "cannot be described otherwise than tragic," the Russian President said in a live interview now running on three Ukrainian television channels, including the government-run Channel One and the commercial networks Inter and Studio 1+1.
Mr Putin said that "the recent tragic events in Russian soccer" had made it hard for him to pick out the best player. He said he was fond of Brazil's Pele as well as of players from Germany and other European nations. He also mentioned Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukrainian striker now playing for Italy's AC Milan.
