The Zenith club from St. Petersburg and former Russia national team striker Alexander Kerzhakov weighed in on what became the most notable letdown at the Qatar World Cup, choosing the team that left fans surprised and disappointed as the biggest miss of the tournament.
Kerzhakov remarked that while some called the Belgium side the genuine disappointment, Group F featured three strong teams in Morocco, Croatia and Belgium, and only one could advance. He noted that one of the contenders would exit the event, and the other two would advance with a tougher path ahead. The German squad, despite a compelling run of play, ended up as the team that did not meet expectations, according to statements cited from Sport Express.
In Qatar 2022, Germany accumulated four points from three matches. They were defeated 1-2 by Japan in the opener, then drew 1-1 with Spain, the 2010s and 2014 champions in a match that highlighted Germany’s tactical balance and depth. The final group match brought a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica; however, the result was not enough for Die Mannschaft to progress to the knockout rounds. This marked the second consecutive World Cup where Germany failed to advance from the group stage, mirroring the exit at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Andrey Arshavin, a former midfielder for the Russian national team and Zenit, argued that the idea of moving the Russian Football Union (RFU) to the Asian Football Confederation would not address the fundamental issues facing Russian football. He suggested that changes in confederation affiliation would not automatically translate into better performance on the field.
FIFA and UEFA subsequently suspended Russia’s participation in all competitions governed by these bodies, including the qualifiers for the 2022 World Championship. The action affected the national team and Russian clubs alike, removing them from scheduled international fixtures and adding to the broader conversation about how sanctions and organizational realignments influence football development and competition quality. The suspension drew widespread commentary about the balance between governance, sport integrity, and the long-term implications for Russian football in the global landscape.