In a recent friendly between Russia and Grenada, the teams prepared for action as the stadium buzzed with anticipation. Artem Dziuba, a veteran striker for the Russian national team, shared a warm moment with head coach Valery Karpin after greeting the Grenadian players. The scene underscored the camaraderie and mutual respect that frame an international gathering, where competition meets sportsmanship and the atmosphere can lift performance on the field.
During the pregame buildup, the Russian side rotated personnel to give players meaningful minutes and test different combinations. Karpin called up the 36-year-old forward and handed him the captain’s armband, signaling trust in his leadership and experience to anchor the team on the field and inspire teammates through the match.
On March 13, the forward was named again to Russia’s squad for the March fixtures. Dziuba had previously represented the national team at the 2021 European Championship, where Russia faced Denmark in a 1-4 result, a milestone chapter in his long international journey that continued to shape his role with the team.
The match took place at the VTB Arena in Moscow, and the Russians secured a 5-0 victory. Danil Prutsev opened the scoring in the 16th minute, followed by a goal from Arsen Adamov just before halftime and another strike from Dziuba in the 43rd minute. The goal added by Dziuba marked his 31st for Russia, a milestone often connected with the legacy of former scorer Alexander Kerzhakov and carried as a banner of achievement for the current squad.
Media coverage highlighted the disciplined tempo, sharp pressing, and clinical finishing displayed by the Russian side. Analysts noted the growing understanding among attackers and midfielders, and the depth of the squad as it builds toward more demanding tasks in the coming windows.
Grenada sits far down the FIFA rankings, around the mid-170s, which underscored the scale of the challenge Russia faced. During this international window, Russia scheduled another friendly against Zambia on March 25, again at VTB Arena, maintaining momentum and giving coaches additional data to refine the squad for future assignments.
Coach Karpin has spoken about balancing rotation with clear leadership on the field. His approach seeks to preserve core cohesion while testing new options, aiming to keep the team sharp and ready for the next phase of competitions and qualifiers.