Fabio Capello: Beam distracted goalie

Algeria progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in their history with a 1-1 draw against Russia on Thursday, but controversy surrounded Islam Slimani's equaliser as Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev appeared to have been distracted by a laser pen

Curitiba: Algeria progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in their history with a 1-1 draw against Russia on Thursday, but controversy surrounded Islam Slimani's equaliser as Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev appeared to have been distracted by a laser pen. Russia boss Fabio Capello said there was no doubt Akinfeev had been distracted by the laser beam.

Russia boss Fabio Capello

“He was blinded by the laser beam. There are pictures and you can see that in the footage,” said the Italian, who for a second successive time has failed to translate his success as a club coach onto the World Cup stage.

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“About the lasers it is not an excuse. The goalkeeper was unable to do his job. The laser beam was in his face.” Algeria boss Vahid Halilhodzic said he has not seen the laser beam.

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