Russia's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink could be offered Russian citizenship after he guided the national side into the Euro 2008 semifinals, according to Russia President Dmitri Medvedev on Sunday. The 61-year-old Dutchman propelled the Russians into the last four at the expense of his compatriots on Saturday, and Medvedev said that should he want he could become Russian. Medvedev was replying to a question from a World War II veteran, who congratulated the Russian president on Russia's success but wondered whether it would be safe for Hiddink to return to his country of birth. “He doesn't need to go back, we can bestow on him Russian citizenship,” replied Medvedev, who succeeded Vladimir Putin earlier this year. Medvedev was meeting with his Belarus counterpart, authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Nihat out Turkey striker Nihat Kahveci will miss the rest of Euro 2008 because of a thigh injury, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) said on Sunday. “Before going (home) he sent his best wishes to the squad and wished them victory against Germany (in Wednesday's semifinal),” the TFF said on its website. Nihat, who was captain in the absence of the injured Emre Belozoglu, hurt his right thigh three minutes from the end of extra time in Friday's penalty shootout win over Croatia in Vienna. The 28-year-old Villarreal player scored twice in the 3-2 comeback win over Czech Republic in Turkey's final game in Group A. Turkey added that Emre had a 50-50 chance of playing against Germany. “Belozoglu is 50-50 and was back in light training today,” said a team spokesman.
