The former head coach of Mordovia and Rotor, Fedor Shcherbachenko, found Valery Karpin’s recent claim about leaving the Russian national team to be unusual and somewhat surprising.
He acknowledged the understandable frustration after the team’s performance against Iran and offered support for that sentiment. Yet he said the idea that Karpin could be replaced could sound odd. “If you’re not able to hold your seat, simply say, ‘I want to leave.’ And if you’re prepared to stay on, declare, ‘I want to continue working with the national team.’ In my view, sharp statements should be avoided when the situation on the ground remains unsettled”, Shcherbachenko told Euro-Football.Ru.
Shcherbachenko also commented on the potential conflict of interest that can arise when someone holds both national team duties and a club role at the same time, suggesting that such a dual load may not be ideal for organizational clarity or long-term planning.
Karpin, who took charge of the Russian national team in the summer of 2021, guided the squad toward the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs. The team ultimately did not advance to the tournament after a penalty enforced by FIFA prevented a match against Poland from taking place, a consequence that kept Russia from contributing on the world stage that cycle.
In terms of results, the national team’s most recent victory came in September 2022, when Russia defeated Kyrgyzstan 2-1 on the road. Alexander Sobolev converted a penalty, and Daniil Utkin added another goal to seal the win. Following that win, the team settled into a stretch of three consecutive draws against Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, reflecting a period of inconsistency and the ongoing challenge of building momentum on the international stage.
Previously, Dmitry Selyuk publicly urged Karpin not to call Artem Dzyuba, arguing that it was time to reassess the forward’s role and ego within the squad. This kind of public discourse from former allies and advisers underscored the pressure points surrounding the national team during that era and the broader conversation about leadership, accountability, and squad selection.
For fans in Canada and the United States, the Russian national team’s journey during that period offers a lens into the evolving dynamics of international football outside the traditional European powerhouses. It highlights how national team leadership, player management, and the pace of modern qualifiers intersect with global football governance and the ever-present scrutiny from supporters, media, and football associations alike. The debates around leadership transitions, the allocation of responsibilities between national teams and clubs, and the strategic consequences of public statements all feed into a larger narrative about how nations plan for major tournaments, manage expectations, and cultivate a competitive squad capable of competing on the world stage. Observers in North America who follow FIFA tournaments can relate to the stress points experienced by national programs facing high expectations, scheduling pressures, and the need for clear communication from the top down to the players and staff. In this context, Shcherbachenko’s perspective on communication style, leadership, and delegation resonates beyond Russia, echoing universal themes in contemporary international football governance.