now the time has come to say a closer look at the champions league contender xeni st petersburg. are unbeaten so far in the russian premier league after fifteen matches and so far look on course to claim their second title constantine posts off reveals a few of the secrets behind this winning streak. zuniga are almost unstoppable they're top of the league and have won mind games in a row moreover the st petersburg club have been splashing the cash sending bruno alvis from puerto for over twenty million euros the portugal star becomes the second defender to arrive at zeni this summer following the footsteps of twenty seven year old alexander leakage the serbian joined from italian side which in as a way his spanned three seasons ninety seven matches the needs have also been strengthening their squad in other areas and in so doing of making one of their title rivals defending champions who are being have lost key players alexandre before and sergei similar to the st petersburg outfit cinemax move was a complete surprise as the transfer was agreed in only a few days needs transfer b

with home one title and the russian side will cost for forty in st petersburg. well russia haven't played any games in the last thirty days but still climbed one place in the safer world rankings to occupy sixteen spot meanwhile the usa find places to a transfer they choose days to mail defeat to brazil in new jersey where there was some joy for fourteenth place croatia along with russia and switzerland cool inched up on its own she were in the top ten with world champions spain still ruling the roost and remained seventy pounds fee for president sepp blatter in the pool ahead of the you know when you sit in a big games has defended features decision to stage the international games on wednesday just days before many of the major european leagues take off. and if you want to play really much the green you are september seventeenth. nobody goes to the on go to bed when you know so they didn't use the israelis much they do believe . it be it indeed or you can challenge the younger g. i'm going to make it look the older voters are going to bed by see if i can see t

person committee stopped in on petersburg on monday and after they leave moscow they'll be heading to cazan and to sochi which will be the host of the upcoming twenty fourteen olympic games before the committee returns back to moscow on thursday to give a press conference. current stacey thanks very much indeed for this update they should be ones reporting. what we actually have someone reported by our colleague as you know we're told before we say biden you will take all. but two thirds received three. and so vesey come. could know should be next it's hoops of posting the twenty eighteen world cup facing a key test this week is fifty inspectors arrive to assess the beat also in the running are england australia the united states and two june fits for. spain and portugal and golden and the netherlands but so difficult hosting this year's tournament and brazil in four years time it still would be europe's turn will be next in twenty eighteen and many see russia's chances and. chances are pretty good that russia can succeed in a lot of people say maybe you know i got more political deci

recommendations and they also took a cultural tour of the city to show their safe petersburg and russia itself are popular tourist destinations and thus worthy to host the world cup. safely officials are in moscow now and why will the russians idea made their case today. well that was coming under question the very fact that they were trying to do this because of the smog they were worried that it would hinder their inspection but it goes on schedule and it includes a meeting with prime minister putin a visit here to look make mickey stadia which was is supposed to be. the opener and the final for the world cup it is also today on the on the agenda is . i'm sorry also on the agenda is the major bid for the presentation and for more on that also to my colleague the catherine of the troll by. virtue with brazil with. an seoul vesey from. could not should be next it's hoops of posting the twenty eighteen world cup facing a key test this week as fifty inspectors arrive to assess the beat also in the running are england australia the united states and to june fifth it's from spain and portug

well good morning to you marina yes monday the thief inspectors touch down and say petersburg to start there for a day fact finding mission to see if russia is in fact ready to host a world cup either in twenty eighteen or twenty twenty two now their stay in st petersburg took part they took part in checking out just. one of them was a stadium that's being a wrecked it there into an anticipation for the world cup they also to take in some of of the renovation is being done at the airport this is russia showing that it is in fact taking the us the first instructions when it comes to transportation into consideration the russian officials also showed on st petersburg its culture and its international feel and the hope is that people will get to see that state petersburg and russia itself is a main destination for for travelers so that there will be a great it's a welcoming for for the world cup if russia gets to host it. so why does on the year janda for the official sunday as the focus shifts to the russian capital moscow. right and there was a concern early on because of the wildfires

forty in st petersburg. in the meantime angle and will take to the pitch for the first time since their fall one last judgment in south africa for alliance face hunger at wembley. still in charge and now says he needs to learn the lessons from the disappointing world cup run. so. there's a good. not the same level that would play political but. when you. were world cup competition you have to. really good the physical situation. for a show like. the game to everybody. not really. the mind of the players the mind of the. ingenious for. the game of the game. but as you know against all and all and more of the mind of the players are variable. a lot of meanwhile are preparing to entertain argentina without their manager giovanni trapattoni the veteran italian is in a stable condition in hospital after suffering from. a likely to include in their line up while the irish captain robert kane is looking forward to winning his one hundredth cap. the armies of sci fi i think probably the best in the war at the moment

game takes place right here at the petrofsky stadium which is of course the whole ball of sydney st petersburg with whom because one day you wait the title and the russian side will want to call for a forty in st petersburg in the meantime england will take to the pitch for the first time since their full one loss to germany in south africa the three lions face hunger at wembley. still in charge and knows he needs to learn the lessons from a disappointing world cup run. five so. there's a good but. not the same level to play because you look at what. i think when you play a. world cup competition you have to arrive at a really good physical situation. so for a show like the game to be played before another brings really. a mind of. the mind of. the ingenious for every frame. of. the game which is a game. but it's still against all and all and i understand more of the mind of the players or their import. a lot of meanwhile are preparing to entertain without their manager giovanni trapattoni the veteran a talent is in a stable condition in hospital after suffering from. a likely tank. while the

oh so you say see so what can you tell us about the allegations visit in st petersburg today. well good morning to you marina lovely on monday fisa inspectors touchdown and spent in say petersburg for day one of its four day fact finding mission to determine if russia is exactly ready to host a world cup it either twenty eighteen or twenty twenty two and their visit included a stop at a stadium that's being built that's meant to seat sixty eight thousand people and they were they stopped at an airport to see renovations there to see that russia is in fact falling and within the guidelines a set for when it comes to transportation and of the russian officials also gave the inspectors a taste of st petersburg cultural sides taking them to theaters and other venues just to show that say petersburg and russia itself is a major tourist attraction and therefore the world cup would benefit by allowing russia to host the games here. so say said today the focus shifts to the capital moscow so what will when you be tackling there will more can you tell us about that . yet inspectors do

i finally to i saw the k h l wes garson petersburg have unveiled their two new star signings from the n.h.l. it can never cough and then it's going to scoff while their president also review. i signed big name player after i get off president alexander medvedev made the announcement at a press conference at the head office in moscow meanwhile thirty five year old colton that the ball cough had been playing from the sun has a shock since nine hundred ninety nine he played in the conference finals last year where the sharks were beaten by stanley cup win this chicago blackhawks for hill vocal was also russia's goaltender at the olympics in vancouver the ship and fellow new signing of ashcroft and the fear agent on july the first and decided to continue his career back home the twenty six year old defenseman joined the l.a. times in two thousand and two percent by the three other clubs by style say that they used to be back home so that parents can see them playing on home ice. but among the kids my children don't speak russian and that was one of the reasons for coming back home so they

world cup in two thousand and eighteen or two thousand and twenty two the inspection kicked off in st petersburg one of the cities which would stage matches if the bid to host the world's biggest sporting tournaments wins natalia novikov reports from russia's second city. well the competition of course is very strong russia is up against countries hold we have had experience in hosting a world cups in other major international football championships countries such as japan the united states the united kingdom south korea on down there hand however russia right now is in the procedures over reparations for the winter olympics in sochi in two thousand and fourteen so it is caught up in that dynamic of preparing for a major international row position also fief eyes known for supporting developing countries which could be moved to work in favor over show holding the world cup after they came to st petersburg could be fine spectators visited a stadium how cold feet jewel ski in case russia wins the bid this stadium will be used to hold semifinals of the world cup their next stop is moscow after that

finally to i saw he and the k h l wes garson petersburg have unveiled their two new star signings from the n.h.l. if they never cough and then his cough while their president also revealed they signed big name player after they get out of president alexander medvedev made the announcement at a press conference at the head office in moscow meanwhile thirty five year old goaltender in the back off have been playing for the san jose sharks since one thousand nine hundred nine he played in the conference finals last year where the sharks were beaten by stanley cup winners chicago blackhawks four nil the vocal was also russia's goaltender at the olympics in vancouver this year and fellow new signing that has cost him a free agent on july the first and decided to continue his career back home the twenty six year old defenseman joined the l.a. kings in two thousand and two percent paid for three other n.h.l. clubs but stahl say they're pleased to be back home so that parents can see them playing on home ice. and put them in more children those progression and that. one of the reasons for comi

in st petersburg. so among wednesday's thirty four friendlies reigning well champions spain drew with mexico one zero it was the next sequence to open this scoring twelve minutes into the game spanish side tracked down to numbers made the most of it sending the ball past the keeper the world and european champions had to wait until the very end of the game where silva read the equality in injury time making it want to. thank you much germany also failed to win their friendly against denmark the e.u. moves man what's it builds up by seventy third minutes thanks to shots from dawn wish and how much. but the danes didn't want to suffer with a result like that and quickly pulled one go back from and exploited a bad mistake by the junk defense easily hate seeing the nats. and three minutes to go germany's keeper made another dreadful mistake which let go from you final score so well. thank you meantime but not smack continues for france is the former world champions last summer this makes the frenchman open

to get a god has made a triumphant return to the petrowski stadium in st petersburg where you see needs a side that you help with that you wave a cup and the russian title of course but now he's facing a much tougher task with the russian national team who are banking on not simply a quarter point for the euro twenty twelve but perhaps wouldn't as well that's going to happen in a couple of years but for now let's review the friendly match between russia and bulgaria the game started on a high note for the russian fans who continue singing the national anthem as the referee blew the whistle for kick off and the players responded in kind just six minutes of play and they had a shopping spree kick winding remonde sure all called who blasted it into the net after this past goal the home side pulled their forces back a little allowing the visitors a couple of opportunities bulgaria did manage to control the ball in the midfield in the first half however russia's defense prevented the daves bracket from any real danger as for often stick a cot opted for to. two forwards in the first half arse

in some petersburg parties available in grant to tell you a grand hotel emerald marco polo club school who took photo of the big goal to. create this. twenty two. top stories coaches authorities arrest opposition members as violence returns to the streets of the capital bishkek around the thousands gathered in front of parliament demanding the government step down raising fears of renewed unrest but he's used force to break up protesters who are said to be plotting a violent overthrow. grueling rescue efforts are underway here in russia as wildfires spread across the country during the biggest heat wave on record giving at least fifty people dead in moscow the toxic small has cleared but ecologists say the air pollution still remains high forecasters predict it could be weeks before the temperatures start cooling. down for its or against former cia officials say president obama could prevent a war in the middle east they say israel is planning an attack on iran but will only go through with a campaign if it's got the full military support of the united states. twenty forty five moscow

in some petersburg polities available in grand hotel near a grand hotel emerald marco polo full of a club small hotel so close hotel and big old circus are telling us he lifts keep corinthian netsky punnets radisson s.a.'s royal kempinski my god twenty two year old can pull cars can't park in sky now so tell. us it's six. welcome back you're watching our t.v. with me marina joshua reminder of the top stories international sports officials are in russia to assess it as a potential host for the planet's most spectacular football event the world cup the country's bid when twenty eighteen will be the first time the tournament is held in eastern europe. and it's a year since the disaster of russia's biggest hydroelectric plant in siberia seventy five people died when the turbine hall was flooded the investigation into the devastating accident is still ongoing. and washington is divided over the afghan withdrawal deadline set by president obama for mid twenty eleven the new nato troop commander says the date might be too early while the u.s. defense secretary insists it's set in stone. tho

well there on monday fisa inspectors touchdown and spent in st petersburg for day one of its four day fact finding mission to determine if russia is exactly right to host a world cup it either twenty eighteen or twenty twenty two and their visit included a stop at a stadium that's being built that's meant to seat sixty eight thousand people and they will be stopped at an airport to see renovations there to see that russia is in fact falling in within the guidelines set for when it comes to transportation inspectors do have a full day and moscow and including a stop at the iconic blue sneaky stadium which is the proposed site for the opening game and the final game there is russia's just expected to present its major big today and the inspectors are set to meet with government officials including prime minister putin and they're also expected to be guests at a dinner at the kremlin now russia is up against nine other countries to host the world cup but the sports minister believes that russia is in fact ready and that the inspectors will be wowed by the bid that they have put together

was found at sea trade was moved from here to st petersburg at a loss its importance now today on hundreds may no longer hold the titles it once did but it is still home to the glorious history as well as thriving traits in shipbuilding and lumber as well as a budding diamond industry take a look thanks to its waterways on handles is known as the gateway to the arctic but this wasn't always the case in the one nine hundred twenty s. it was called the national hard currency shops as its rich timber and paper pulp industries yielded the lion's share of the treasury's hard currency earnings it's a controversial part of its past these industries flourished thanks to tens of thousands of prison inmates forced to work it did north during stalin's time but on handles did make a more positive and lasting mark in history when peter the. great found of russia's first shipyard here and it became the motherland of the country's fleet our crew visited a ship repair plant in the region which has also recently started making vessels the facility was set up in the one nine hundred fifty s. especially for

work in statistical physics which deals with the behavior of atoms and molecules he was born in st petersburg and is currently working at the university of geneva his achievement was acknowledged by the international mathematics congress as worthy of the fields medal often called the noble prize of mathematics the previous russian to receive it was the recruiting revolution organ shutters mom also from trained peter's arkwright he were free. now they say every dog has its day and for two dogs in the soviet union their day saw them launched literally to international fame half a century ago belka anthro became the first living creatures to circle the earth and come back alive they prove that humans were able to exist in outer space and pave the way for the first manned mission eight months later. just. became the first ever. i don't know. before man space yielded to man's best friend at least fifty seven dogs were sent into orbit by the. arguably one of the most famous travelers were too much or whitey and little arrow fifty years ago after months of strenuous training they and a bunch of mice

after they came to st petersburg could see fine spectators visited a stadium a cold pizza will speak in case russia wins the bid this stadium will be used to hold semifinals of the world cup their next stop is moscow after that they will go to social and cazan altogether thirteen russian cities will pretty stiff eighteen zero in this build their results will be announced on the second of december this year so in just a couple of months time meanwhile russians of course a very closely monitoring this been many who feel that russia indeed will wind up after the inspectors came to st petersburg they held a brief press conference during which they have said that they are going to be very strict with questions and that russia should be prepared for that and to russian authorities have already prepared five hundred kilograms worth of favorite in documentation shooting that's proving russia's credibility for holding the world cup of course of those the young football players who are learning only learning right now also very much looking forward for this decision to be made hoping it will b

planet's most spectacular sporting events the football world cup the expection inspections began in some petersburg one of the cities which will be used if the country wins the right to stage the tournament the telling of reports now from russia's second city. well the competition of course is very strong russia is up against countries hold we have had experience in hosting a world cups in other major international football championships countries such as japan the united states united kingdom south korea on the other hand however russia right now is in the throes this is over reparations for the winter olympics in sochi in two thousand and fourteen so it is caught up in that dynamic of preparing for a major international wrong position also fief eyes known for supporting developing countries which could be moved to work in favor of our show holding the world cup after they came to st petersburg could be fined spectators visited a stadium a cold feet you'll see in case russia wins the bid this stadium will be used to hold semifinals of the world's got their next stop is moscow to that they will go

tour of the nation's prospective host cities this week six inspectors in all going sightseeing in st petersburg before heading south to moscow to inspect the luzhniki stadium they'll then make their way to the well as twenty eight fourteen winter olympics a soft cheek total of thirteen russian cities are aspiring to take part the big decision will be announced by faith on the same bird the second england australia and be united states and joint pains from spain and portugal belgium the netherlands are the competition. but you let me teach them we were very eager to invite the two thousand and eighteen world cup to russia and we're confident in our bid we will do our best to provide the inspection commission with as much information as possible regarding our bid so they can gauge the readiness of our potential host to the us senate simpy just berghaus their own mission ahead tonight and that's to qualify for the champions league proper the premier league table toppers host auxerre are in their first leg playoff. it's all been going swimmingly for this man alex by letting his side domestically ov

small ogg caused by pit fires around the russian capital spartak moscow and legally doesn't need st petersburg was supposed to have line on sunday along with two other local favorites and now the matches will most likely be played towards the end of the season the national team is also facing the consequences of the forest fires as their friendly against bowl garia has been moved from moscow to petersburg wednesday's match will be dick advocates debut as the russian national team had coach. over in england manchester united face selection ahead of the first competitive game of the season last is run as a preparing to take on double when as chelsea in the community to shield on sunday i think that the world cup is his first was. probably the pinnacle or players careers and intensity over. the proof means that. i think it does take over or. you can dismiss the good memories and we've done i can do is read. it and i will get it and get the benefit through the season. but it doesn't mean you know a season you're going to go risk in terms of you want to play them you know what it means and i still

isn't it some petersburg have put themselves in the driving seat to join fellow russian sides routine. in the group stages of the champions league. recording a one zero win over observer in their first leg qualifier as an eight taking their own to the continental stage the premier league leaders going ahead after just three minutes through alexander. never really looked like relinquishing anything but a last stand in the second leg next week will result in the white and blues entering the european cup on receiving the hefty bonuses that come with. elsewhere in the one thousand kiev and. russian international. could turn out to be a timely goal for spurs with his side losing three young boys its first blow to rosenberg in their old scandinavian clash with f.c. copenhagen while slovakian minnows upset the odds to secure a first leg advantage a way to spark a prague. scandal which engulfed the french national team and world cup two thousand and ten finally come to an end albeit with some eyeopening punishments hunted done the most severe of which being nicholas and then. eighteen much ba

consequences of the forest fires as their friend against both garia has been moved from moscow to st petersburg. in friday's game will start cemented their place in the top five after a one zero home win against sadek they encounter at the olympic stadium was scoreless until alexander problem came a bismark in the seventy fifth minute the mentos on loan from sparks off moscow helping rostov get the win and put pressure on the competition for points now separate the fifth place rostov and third place rubin with sparse standing between them in fourth. now let's stay with the russian premier league where leaders zanies are still unbeaten after fifteen matches and to back up their european ambitions for this season this side signed portuguese international bruno alvarez from force all the twenty eight year old joined porthole in two thousand only one a regular first team place in two thousand and five after three long spells he went on to play a hundred and twenty games and scored fourteen goals for the club winning four consecutive portuguese titles essential. defender played every minute of comme

petersburg she's available in hotels a story of. the true school toto. and to. see how this. visit. comes in from the russian capital this is twenty four hours a day with top stories now the massive traffic jams of paralyzed the roads and second city st petersburg after much of it was left without power electricity has been restored and. also disrupted. the u.s. within three months of russia's foreign minister describes the decision as political to bring him back home. something. power up iran's first nuclear. energy joint project will be fully operational in a month. plus the debate over the building of a mosque near new york's ground zero site itself as an ad campaign seen by many muslim is posted around the city president obama has defended the plan cultures have a right to practice. in fifteen minutes from now. deep into the history of an ancient no stranger to modern lifestyle. golden ring continues with a visit to. our destination for that is that little gem of a place quite old that sits in the shop corner of the volga river it's actually the coach on the straight is even out

a population of over six hundred thousand it's an important heritage site and off to moscow and st petersburg it's one of the main tourist destinations we come from the u.s. where something that one hundred years old is considered all and here we've been able to see magnificent frescoes that are up to a thousand years old so it's been just an incredible experience. you can see why this city is so popular. apart from the site during history in b.c. it also has a fast and direct train route from the same. transurban express also stops in the city. this is a city center monument is of prince the wise the first fortress on the volga river built one thousand years ago legend has it the force of a ferocious sacred back story is displayed here ever since the bear has been associated with the area and is now the city's emblem. this site is extremely important to russian cultural life it's where the first permanent place was built in the country in seventy fifty after a fire destroyed the original wooden building it was replaced by the shallow certain structure you see today. is said to be the startin

in st petersburg. among fits of full friendliest plays on wednesday reigning world champ and spain drew with mexico one hole and it was the mexicans to open their scoring twelve minutes into the game i spent a shutout failed and this made the most of it sending the ball prospect people right into the nets the world and european champions had to wait until the very end of the game but soon but that belies a drop time making model sealing the final result i thank you much germany also failed to win there. i know the men were so goes out by the seventy third minute thanks to shots from and how much. i didn't want to play such a result and quickly pulled one goal back from adult exploited that bad mistake by the german defense basically hitting the nets i mean it's a good german escape and made another mistake which let go from the final score. i thank you in the mean time and not smack continues to france is former world champion. and the frenchman opened the scoring to break off on the keeper back with h

train for magic but it's more visible in moscow and st petersburg here we feel like we're returning to the old russia and it is absolutely spectacular place to see that we're in a place that they're boring back to the seventeenth century grander the onion dome so we're very fortunate that we've spent three days here it's something that i think a lot of americans don't know about. an opportunity to see a beautiful part of the world. everything you see here was rebuilt sixteenth century is the only piece of architecture. that represents. time today we can hear the sounds of how ms i'm drills dozens of men are working around the clock to renovate the ministry in time for the anniversary celebrations it's wonderful to hear the most of the city's main sites will be returned to the. very popular. found in a forest is a cub. being killed. and suffering from exhaustion and starvation she was rescued by the museum and preserve lives to this day this is. for twenty. three to five months she's completely from everyone here in the city. by the team who say that she's smarter than a dog. absolutely

also petersburg also battle to sign a star and the figures appeared back in june. possible now in the boston celtics have officially introduce their latest acquisition shaquille o'neal after the thirty eight year old left the cleveland cavaliers the veteran was given to a contract from which helen around three million u.s. dollars the former n.b.a. champion is currently the oldest active player in the league will be boston's back up center behind carolina look at it. is only have seven hundred thirty days left in this game and i just want to be with a group of guys are you know like the way and you know as do your job you should have been a player of experience. and finally to martial arts with a bit of a difference russia's bailiff's have taken the skills they used in self defense to a new level and allow utilizing the so-called complete fighting system in their everyday work robert fatton explains. first assured warm up. muscle flexing. their skills and drills. looks like a professional fire risk regular training session over the once you see train here all russi

attention to the world cup's of the future that's because a team of fee for officials arrived in st petersburg today kicking off their assessment of the country's bit to host the tournament in two thousand and eighteen just the thought of having the greatest show on earth in their own backyard is already giving potential stars of tomorrow night evasion to train harder today after bennett has moved. for these boys football is their life they train every single day just twelve years old and if the world cup does come to russia in twenty eighteen the hopes and expectations of a nation resting on bare shoulders pressure that would make others of their age crumble but for the boys at spartak moscow is youth academy discipline and desire and more important it's not the fear of failure that drives them is the fear of missing the chance to play in a world cup on home turf yes i'm still very civil strife and if i really want russia to host the twenty eighteen world cup it's my life's purpose if we keep working hard we have a good chance of making the team but the trainings no walk in the park before th