Former USSR national team and Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Anzor Kavazashvili shared a candid reaction to Russia’s victory over Vietnam, expressing confusion about pride tied to the result. He noted that the gap between the two teams in quality is striking and questioned why the coaching staff would be preparing for a match against a side that sits far below in the international pecking order, as quoted by Euro-Football.Ru.
In Kavazashvili’s view, enthusiasm for such outcomes should be tempered by the context of competition. He pointed out that the difference in level between the teams is substantial, arguing that celebrations over a 3-0 win might not translate into meaningful progress on the world stage. The veteran goalkeeper emphasized the need for Russia to aim higher, warning that setting sights on friendlies against teams of Vietnam’s calibre could erode gains made on the training ground and misrepresent the country’s ambitions in international football.
The match itself saw Russia prevail with a 3-0 scoreline against Vietnam. The opening goal was delivered by Daler Kuzyaev, the French-born midfielder who plies his trade with Le Havre, finding the back of the net in the 24th minute. Early in the second half, a turning point occurred when Vietnamese defender Van Thanh Vu inadvertently steered the ball into his own net in the 62nd minute, extending Russia’s lead. The contest was ultimately sealed by Tamerlan Musaev, CSKA Moscow’s forward, who scored in the 77th minute to set the final score at 3-0. These moments highlighted a match that many observers deemed routine on the scoreboard, yet perhaps telling in terms of strategic intent and player development for the national team moving forward.
Looking ahead, the Russian squad is scheduled to face Thailand in their next fixture, with the match slated for September 7 in Hanoi. The venue choice mirrors recent patterns of regional competition, offering a familiar but challenging environment for a side trying to build cohesion and experiment with tactical approaches outside of the more intense pressures of European qualifiers. The upcoming game will be watched closely by pundits who want to see how the team adapts to different travel, climate, and opposition styles, and whether the coaching staff will leverage this opportunity to test new combinations or reinforce proven roles in the squad.
Meanwhile, questions linger about Russia’s broader trajectory on the international stage. Analysts and officials have wrestled with the timing of a meaningful return to top-level competition, weighing preparations, sanctions, and the evolution of the national program’s long-term strategy. Observers like Kavazashvili argue that progress must be measured by sustained performance against higher-caliber opponents, not by the margins achieved against teams from a lower tier. The call from seasoned voices remains clear: success at the highest level requires consistency, intelligent planning, and a willingness to push beyond comfortable limits. In this context, the forthcoming fixtures provide a platform to assess readiness, depth, and the ability of players to translate domestic form into impact in international matches. (Source: Euro-Football.Ru)