Former Dynamo head coach Sergei Silkin has stated that he does not plan to watch the matches of the Russian national football team. His remarks were reported by RB Sports, and they reveal a personal stance about following the national program at this time.
In his own words, Silkin said he has no expectations for the forthcoming Qatar match and that watching Russia’s national team has become tedious for him. He described the experience as monotonous and unengaging, adding a pointed remark about Qatar. He questioned whether Qatar participated in the World Cup and suggested their appearance was due to ownership rather than competitive merit, a critique rooted in his assessment of the broader qualifying and tournament dynamics. These comments reflect a broader mood among some former players and coaches regarding Russia’s national team visibility and performance on the international stage.
Earlier, the international governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA, decided in the spring of 2022 to suspend Russia’s national team and all Russian clubs from competition under their purview. This suspension affected the national side’s ability to participate in official matches and qualified international tournaments, limiting opportunities to compete against peers in the region and beyond. The decision was part of a wider set of sanctions and administrative measures affecting Russian football during that period, with implications for development programs, youth pipelines, and the overall competitiveness of the sport within the country.
On September 7, Russia did play a friendly against the Egyptian Olympic team in Suez, ending in a 1-1 draw. The match showcased a transitional phase for the squad, as coaches and players used these fixtures to test personnel and strategies in the absence of regular competition at the senior international level. A rematch was scheduled for September 11, with a follow-up engagement on September 12 as Valery Karpin’s team prepared to meet Qatar in Doha. These fixtures illustrated the ongoing efforts to maintain a presence on the international stage and to assess how the team could evolve in the post-suspension period.
In the broader football community, comments from former Spartak Moscow defender and pundit Evgeniy Lovchev have echoed concerns about the long-term health of Russian football. Lovchev suggested that the league and national program could face declines in level and quality if structural issues are not addressed, signaling a call for strategic reforms and investment to restore competitiveness and depth across domestic and international play. His perspective underscores the ongoing conversation about how Russia can rebuild its footballing reputation and return to sustained success on the world stage, despite recent sanctions and competitive disruptions. — Attribution: RB Sports