Nikolai Naumov, the former head of Moscow Lokomotiv, weighed in on the news that the Russian national team is slated to play a friendly match with Iran. He suggested that, sooner or later, Russia will return to European football, a prospect he believes will come with a full reset of the country’s football standing. His comments were reported by RB Sports.
According to Naumov, playing is preferable to the alternative of not playing. With Europe off limits for the foreseeable future, the national team must consider viable opponents for friendlies. He warned that if the team remains intact and continues to compete regionally, the day will come when Russia reenters European competition, and he cautioned against what he sees as a potential regression in the level of the game if such a return is mishandled.
Iranian media have noted the possibility of delaying the match, citing statements from the Iran national team head coach, Mehdi Tahja. The planned window for the game is between March 20 and March 28. Separately, the women’s teams of Russia and Iran are also expected to face each other in a separate confrontation.
Earlier, Armand Durn, the striker for Iran, along with representatives from Bayer Leverkusen, responded to questions about whether his client would participate in a friendly with Russia. Their responses emphasized considerations around scheduling, competitive relevance, and the broader implications of such a fixture for both teams. [Source: RB Sports]