ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) Dry humor, slyly delivered.
Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov seemed to enjoy toying with the media on his Confederations Cup debut.
The 53-year-old man from Soviet-era central casting – a football-sized bald head and broad moustache – gave little away in a mandatory news conference before the host nation’s opening game against New Zealand on Saturday.
Yet this ”Mr. Nyet” delivered his most stonewall answers with mischief, comic timing and a just-concealed smile.
”I am a diplomat, talking a lot about nothing, right?” Cherchesov chided his audience after yet another evasive answer near the end of a 20-minute session at St.