WORLD Cup host Russia slumped to a 1-0 defeat in a friendly against Austria on Wednesday, extending its winless streak to six matches.

Russia has lost all three games in 2018 after defeats to Brazil and France in March, and has not won a game since beating South Korea in October.

Austria winger Marko Arnautovic set up midfielder Alessandro Schoepf for the only goal in the 28th minute, giving coach Franco Foda his fourth win in four matches since taking over from Marcel Koller in November after the team failed to qualify for the World Cup.

“We have to improve our passing,” Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said. “We created one, two chances to score but we have to do more.”

The match, which was Russia’s first abroad since beating Hungary 3-0 in Budapest a year ago, marked the end of the team’s 10-day training camp in the Austrian region of Stubaital.

Russia plays Turkey in Moscow on Tuesday in its final warmup game before opening the World Cup against Saudi Arabia on June 14.(SD-Agencies)