Former USSR national team goalkeeper and Spartak veteran Anzor Kavazashvili believes Valery Karpin earned acknowledgment for his leadership of the Russian national team by securing a trophy, signaling a significant milestone in his coaching career.
“Some critics insist Karpin is not a winner because trophies are absent from his track record. I disagree with that notion completely. Every coach has a unique path. Karpin, through his work with the national team, has shown the football world that he is a capable and thoughtful expert. The team was just one step away from qualification for the World Cup,” Kavazashvili noted in discussions with a sports ratings outlet.
The upcoming summer schedule presents a chance for the Russian side to chase silverware in a tournament set to feature teams from Asia. Kavazashvili described this event as a historic opportunity for both Karpin and the national team to demonstrate progress on the continental stage and to demonstrate the team’s growing consistency against diverse opponents.
On March 13, reports confirmed that Russia would take part in an Asian international tournament scheduled for June 2023. Participants will include national squads from Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. The organizers also extended invitations to another Asian team as well as Russia, broadening the competition’s regional representation and giving the national squad a valuable testing ground ahead of forthcoming fixtures.
Valery Karpin previously steered the Russian national team to participate in the World Cup qualifying playoffs in Qatar. Russia, however, faced a blockage in the qualification phase following a period of suspension of FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, complicating the team’s competitive calendar and delaying potential advancement.
Former coach Sergei Silkin added context by explaining what the invitation to the June international tournament means for Russia, highlighting the practical and strategic benefits of such varied international exposure for players and staff alike.