Former striker Bulykin urges Russia to face any hosting nation in friendlies
Famous former domestic forward Dmitry Bulykin, who spent his peak years with Moscow clubs Lokomotiv and Dynamo, and who also wore the shirts of renowned European teams such as Bayer Leverkusen in Germany and Ajax in the Netherlands, spoke to socialbites.ca about the Russian national team and the importance of arranging a match with any nation willing to host it. In his view, the target should be to keep the team active on the pitch and to deliver entertaining football that excites the fans. He stressed that playing against a second team from another country would be far from ideal and, frankly, would feel pointless to supporters who crave genuine tests. He emphasized a desire for real national sides to provide a proper challenge and offered some examples of possible opponents, mentioning Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, or San Marino as feasible choices for such encounters.
According to comments attributed to him, Bulykin suggested the team should not be overly selective about opponents. The focal point, he argued, is to compete on the field, showcase the squad’s capabilities, and bring joy to the supporters. His remarks reflect a broader wish that the squad faces meaningful competition in earnest rather than staging mismatched sessions that do little to boost confidence or tactical development.
The Russian national team, coached by Valery Karpin, is scheduled to hold a training camp from October 7 to 15. The Russian Football Union (RFU) has not yet announced any friendly fixtures for this period, but officials stated that the camp would proceed even if no match is arranged. At the same time, the national team has been presented with options to play either a Media League squad or a team composed of foreign players currently active in the Russian Premier League, should a traditional international fixture not materialize.
Earlier, the Tajikistan national team rejected a friendly with Russia, a decision that has influenced the planning of forthcoming warm-up arrangements and forced stakeholders to explore alternative tests to prepare the squad for upcoming responsibilities. The evolving situation underscores the ongoing debate about suitable opponents and the best path to keep the team sharp during the October window, with discussions reportedly considering a range of potential partners and formats.