Magomed Ozdoev, the Greek PAOK midfielder who spent years in Russia, weighed in on Valery Karpin’s strategy during the period of isolation and said that Karpin should give opportunities to younger players. He described the current situation as a matter of personal judgment from the national team coach about who to call into the squad and who to leave out. Ozdoev added that it does not really matter to him which players are summoned or not, emphasizing his own detachment from the selection process and focusing on the broader aim of developing talent in a challenging time.
Ozdoev went further, stating that he was genuinely glad not to be called up anymore. He explained that there was no expectation on his part to travel or participate and that he did not even think about accepting a call. His position was clear: let the younger generation take the field. He suggested that the number of players called up, whether 50 or 100, would not fundamentally alter the course of the team or the development program. His preference was to prioritize the growth of emerging players over the immediate inclusion of veterans.
With a long international career behind him, Ozdoev represented Russia from 2014 to 2021, contributing to the national team across multiple campaigns and tournaments. His perspective on transitioning from veteran players to a new generation reflects a wider conversation about continuity, experience, and fresh talent in the national setup.
The football world watched closely as in the spring of 2022, major governing bodies announced a significant suspension affecting Russia. The International Federation of Football Associations and the Union of European Football Associations decided to suspend Russia from participating in competitions under their governance. As a result, Russian clubs and the national team were limited to playing matches that were classified as friendlies, a stark shift from the adrenaline of competitive fixtures to a period focused on rebuilding and evaluation in a constrained landscape.
In the following year, under the leadership of Valery Karpin, the Russian national team played a sequence of friendlies that totaled five matches in 2023. These games served as trials for evaluating both the squad’s core competencies and the depth of talent available, especially in light of ongoing changes within the pool of players and the tactical approaches of the coaching staff. The matches provided insight into how the team might move forward in a world where national team duties intersect with broader international restrictions and shifting competition calendars.
Earlier commentary from Stanislav Cherchesov, a former coach of the Russian side, indicated a nuanced stance toward Karpin and the broader direction of the program. Cherchesov suggested that there were differing viewpoints about Karpin’s methods and selections, underscoring the ongoing debate within Russian football about leadership, strategy, and the development of homegrown players. The conversation around who should be favored in selection and who should be given room to grow continued to reverberate through fans, analysts, and players alike, shaping expectations for the national team’s future.