Russian coach ponders future

Russia coach Georgy Yartsev is to take a week to ponder his future following Wednesday's 7-1 drubbing by Portugal in a World Cup qualifier in Lisbon.

"He said he needed time to think things over," the president of the Russian Football Union (RFU) Vyacheslav Koloskov told Reuters on Friday.

"He will report to me in a week to let me know if he wants to continue. We are not talking about replacing him at this time."

Yartsev was savaged by the Russian press on Friday for the Group Three defeat, their worst -- either as Russia or the Soviet Union - since 1912.

"Incompetent", "weak-willed", "coward" -- were some of the terms used to describe the coach, who left the

But Koloskov backed Yartsev, instead putting the blame on the players.

"He is still the coach and it is up to him to decide what to do next, but he needs time to calm down," he said.

Koloskov added that if Yartsev decides to quit, the RFU's executive board will appoint the new coach next week in time for Russia's next qualifier at home to Estonia on November 17.

Russia are fourth in the group with four points from three games. Portugal and Slovakia both have 10 points from four games while Estonia are third with seven from four.