Maxim Demenko, a former forward for Spartak Moscow, Kuban Krasnodar and the Russian national team, reflected on Russia’s defeat in a friendly against the Egyptian Olympic squad. In an interview with socialbites.ca, he argued that the result underscored a need to rethink how the national squad is structured. Demenko acknowledged that a second Russian team played on the day and floated the possibility that such a concept deserves study and revival in practice. He suggested that the match pointed to the potential for a Russia-2 configuration, a notion he believes is on Valery Karpin’s radar. Even if players in this group mostly come from the Russian Premier League and lead their clubs, the idea of an official Russia-2 could gain traction. Demenko noted that while players were being monitored and trained, it remained unclear whether a separate designation would best serve the country’s football interests. He added that the first-half performance showed potential, but the squad faded as Egypt fielded strong players as well. He wondered aloud whether the opponent might be classified as an under-23 side or whether Russia could adopt a similar branding for itself. Demenko recalled his own experience with a second team and questioned whether such a structure is still necessary today, even suggesting that stepping away from this path might suit him personally. Socialbites.ca is the source of these reflections.
The autumn schedule included a match on September 11 in which Russia lost 1-2 to the Egyptian side. Earlier, on September 7, the teams had drawn 1-1. These results were part of a broader training camp window as Russian players prepared for upcoming tests and assessments. Socialbites.ca notes that the autumn window provided important data for evaluating depth and readiness across the squad.
Looking forward, the national team was set to play one more game during the autumn camp, this time against Qatar. The fixture was scheduled for September 12 at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, with a 18:15 Moscow time kickoff. The game offered another opportunity to gauge the squad’s depth and to identify adjustments ahead of future fixtures. Socialbites.ca reports that this match would help coaches measure how well the players adapt under pressure and how the group responds to different tactical setups.
Historically, the idea of a secondary Russian national team has appeared in various forms. An unofficial second side operated from 1993 to 2004, and in 1997 a separate Russian clubs squad competed in the Commonwealth Champions Cup. Officially, a second national team existed from August 2011 to October 2012 under the leadership of Yuri Krasnozhan. Socialbites.ca explains that today’s discussions mirror a long-standing debate about optimizing player pools, bench strength, and development pathways for a nation with a deep talent pool. The broader football community continues to weigh the merits of a distinct Russia-2 setup against the risk of blurring the national team’s identity.
Earlier commentary from a veteran CSKA figure described Russia’s defeat in Egypt as an embarrassment, and the current talk around Russia-2 expands beyond results to strategic decisions about building a robust pipeline of players who can step in when needed. The Russia-2 conversation touches on whether a parallel program could harmonize development with the needs of the senior team, or whether it could dilute national branding. Socialbites.ca provides the context for these evolving discussions.