Andrei Arshavin, the former captain of Zenit Saint Petersburg and a longtime leader for the Russian national team, spoke frankly in an interview with Sports Express. He argued that many national team matches held in recent years carried little sporting significance and, as a result, felt largely irrelevant to players who had spent their careers in the domestic league. Arshavin suggested that when the time comes for younger talents to take center stage, the current stars who have already stepped away from the national team would likely be watching from home rather than on the field, contemplating how the squad should adapt for the future. The remark reflects a broader concern about the alignment between the national program and the evolving landscape of Russian football. (Source: Sports Express)
Meanwhile, the Russian Football Union (RFU) announced that a gathering would be organized to reconnect players with the national team for the upcoming November training camp. The move underscores the federation’s intent to assess the pool of available players and to outline plans for integrating talent into international duties as the calendar resumes activity. (Source: RFU announcements)
Looking ahead, Valery Karpin’s squad is scheduled to meet the Cuban national team in a friendly match held in Volgograd. The game is slated to kick off at 19:30 Moscow time and provides an opportunity for both sides to test squad depth, try out tactical ideas, and evaluate players under match conditions outside of competitive qualifiers. This fixture follows a long sequence of strategic planning by the federation to maintain player engagement and match readiness amid ongoing adjustments in international football. (Source: RFU schedule)
Reflecting on the wider context, it is important to recall the suspension that affected Russian teams and the national squad. In the spring of 2022, FIFA and UEFA collectively decided to suspend Russia from all competitions run by those bodies. Since that decision, Russian clubs and the national team have largely participated only in friendly matches outside the framework of FIFA and UEFA tournaments. This status has shaped how the national program organizes friendlies, selects players, and plans for future competitive play on the international stage. (Source: FIFA, UEFA statements)
Additional context surrounding squad selections remains a talking point among fans and analysts. In particular, questions have arisen about why certain players, such as Artem Dzyuba, might not be called up for national duty in some periods. The absence of notable forwards from specific training camps or matches has prompted discussions about tactical balance, form, and the evolving pool of candidates available to the national team. These debates continue to influence expectations around how the team should be built going forward. (Source: national team coverage)