Sweden´s Kallstrom talks up move

Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom is considering joining a Russian or Ukrainian club as speculation grows linking him with Rubin Kazan.

The 29-year-old Swede, who is currently in Kiev preparing for his country’s final Euro 2012 fixture against France, has been impressed by the way in which the game has developed in the old Soviet Union in recent years.

When asked during a press conference on Monday about the prospect of moving to Russia or Ukraine, Kallstrom replied: “That’s always a possibility. The world of football is changing a bit.

“The new countries like Ukraine and Russia are becoming very strong. We played Rubin Kazan this season in the Champions League qualification round and they have a strong side. So, I would say why not?

“There’s always the possibility, and I think we’ve seen during this competition that the quality of the facilities are great here in Ukraine.

“I was also in Donetsk a couple of months ago and the facilities are perfect, so why not? But I’m not saying all this because I’m definitely going to Rubin!”

Kallstrom will soon be heading home, with Sweden having lost both of their games to date, against Ukraine and England and he admits that Erik Hamren’s men have let themselves down at Euro 2012.

“Not everything is easy to explain,” he said.

“There are many minor parts that haven’t been working the way they should, but you could say that we’ve been missing some efficiency in both penalty areas, defensively and offensively.

“We’ve conceded five goals, and that’s too much to go through the group stage. We’ve created a lot, but we haven’t been able to get them all in the net.

“Considering it all, we have been playing good football and done quite well, but it comes down to the results, and it’s in the penalty area that the match has been decided.”

Kallstrom, though, is in no doubt that Tuesday’s opponents France can win the crown.

“They have a chance in the tournament, and I always thought that before the tournament, they are the strongest team in our group,” he said.

“They have a chance to go really far.

France need only a draw to ensure their progression to the quarter-finals, while co-hosts Ukraine must defeat England in the other game in Group D to get through.