The Russia national football team opened the new year with a test match away from home. In 2022 the squad led by Valery Karpin played only three friendlies, all against teams from Central Asia: a 2:1 win over Kyrgyzstan, a 0:0 draw with Tajikistan, and a victory against Uzbekistan.
The Tehran meeting came at a time when the Russian side faced a suspension from international competition due to the Ukraine conflict, and several foreign teams declined scheduled fixtures, a trend already visible with some nations. The Iran national team ranks among the region’s strongest sides, regularly reaching the final stages of world championships and delivering strong performances at the World Cup in Qatar last autumn, even if they did not advance from the group stage.
Iran approached the match with seriousness, fielding their main lineup while Serdar Azmoun was sidelined by injury. The crowd filled the Tehran national stadium and created a loud atmosphere, with supporters encouraging their team. The sound echoed like a chorus of vuvuzelas, reminiscent of other loud tournament atmospheres.
On the Russian side, coach Valery Karpin assembled a fully committed squad for the game. It should be noted that no foreign-based players were available, as plans to call up Alexei Miranchuk and Alexander Golovin were affected by injuries reported by their clubs, Monaco and Turin respectively.
Matvei Safonov of Krasnodar started in goal, while Maxim Osipenko of Rostov and Ruslan Litvinov anchored the central defense. Litvinov’s role in the middle of the defense was particularly important given the absence of more experienced options. Vyacheslav Karavaev and Daniil Khlusevich provided width and support on the flanks. In central midfield, Danil Glebov, Anton Miranchuk, and Daler Kuzyaev offered balance and drive. On the wings, Anton Zinkovsky from Spartak and Arsen Zakharyan from Dynamo operated as inside forwards. Nikolai Komlichenko led the attack from the frontline from the opening minutes.
Meanwhile, players such as Dmitry Barinov, Sergey Pinyaev, Daniil Fomin, and Alexander Sobolev remained on the bench, suggesting that the coach was weighing official status and rotation before committing key personnel to the match.
The game began with a calm tempo. The hosts held territorial advantages at times, while the Iranians favored longer passes that stretched the Russian defense and forced counter actions from the guests. This approach produced several dangerous moments on set pieces and long balls. Iran pressed effectively and created pressure through standard situations which tested Safonov and his defense. A header from a set piece in the 12th minute nearly found the corner after a Kuzyaev clearance beat the approach of the Iranian attackers.
Midway through the first half, Kanaani curled a free kick from about 30 yards, forcing Safonov to dive to push the ball away to safety. In the 27th minute Zinkovsky advanced with purpose on the left and earned a penalty after a drive into the box, where Ezatullahi brought him down. Miranchuk converted confidently, sending the ball into a corner path past Beiranvand, placing Russia ahead and highlighting the quality of the visitors’ execution in finishing opportunities.
Although Iran created several sharp counter opportunities and free kicks of their own, Russia held a slender advantage as the first half concluded.
Early in the second half, Litvinov faced an unexpected incident after stepping on an opponent in the Russian area. Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Porto, stepped up to take the spot kick, and Safonov guessed incorrectly as the ball found the net. The balance of the match shifted with the restart and both sides made numerous substitutions, which intensified the home advantage on the pitch. The remaining minutes saw Russia manage a rare breakthrough through Zakharyan, while Safonov was kept busy by a fast Iranian attack that continued to threaten the goal.
The Iranian side created a high volume of attempts, totaling around twenty-one shots on target in total, highlighting their persistent pressure. In the end, Karpin’s team held firm and earned a share of the spoils in Tehran. The result was not the most spectacular display, yet it carried strategic significance for both camps as they prepared for ongoing commitments ahead.
report and team notes provided by official federation communications and post-match analyses.