BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

Russia: Laser Beam Lost Us the World Cup

Says coach Fabio Capello.

Here’s one we’ve never heard before. As Russia bowed out of the World Cup on Thursday after a 1-1 draw with Algeria, coach Fabio Capello complained that in the moments before Algeria scored, Russian goalie Igor Akinfeev had been blinded by a laser beam directed at him from somewhere in the crowd.TV stills show a green light on Akinfeev’s face as the goalie protested furiously. Meanwhile, a free-kick was lofted into the area and Algerian Islam Slimani headed the goal in. “There are pictures. You can see that in the footage,” Capello (who is Italian) said. “This is not an excuse, it is a fact. There was a laser. I have never come up with excuses to get by in my entire life.”