The capital’s former Lokomotiv striker Dmitry Sychev shared thoughts on Valery Karpin’s role as head coach of the Russian national team. He described the 52-year-old coach as giving his all to work with the players, aiming to lift the team to new heights.
Sychev emphasized a straightforward stance, hoping not to inflame sentimentality. He pointed out Valery Georgievich’s long-standing dedication to football and to Russia’s national squad, and he stressed that his remarks are not driven by emotion but by respect for what Karpin has achieved and what he continues to pursue for the team.
According to Sychev, Karpin’s leadership is focused on periods of hard work and steady progress. He noted that under Karpin’s guidance, both the squad as a whole and individual players experience the push to improve, refine tactics, and sharpen competitive edge. The aim is clear: maximize each player’s potential while strengthening the team’s unity and resilience on the field.
In contemporary form, the Russian team recently played two matches in the new year. On March 23, they held Iran to a draw in Tehran, a result that reflected a disciplined performance away from home. A few days later, on March 26, the squad delivered a decisive home victory over Iraq with a 2-0 scoreline, underscoring improvements in cohesion and execution under Karpin’s system.
Observers noted that these March friendlies contribute to the teams’ standing on the global stage, as such matches feed into FIFA rankings and shape the national side’s momentum ahead of forthcoming competitions. The performances and training choices during this period are seen as indicators of how the team might fare in future qualifying campaigns and tournament play, with Karpin continuing to guide tactical development and player selection as the season progresses.