Timofey Berdyshev spoke on behalf of Aris forward Alexander Kokorin, noting that Kokorin was left off the latest wider list released for the Russian national team.
It is reasonable to question the coaching staff about Kokorin’s omission. Kokorin has repeatedly voiced a clear intent to represent Russia on the international stage. While the coaching group continues to review options, they are assessing players for a plan that matches current needs. Berdyshev stressed that selection choices rest with the coaching staff, who evaluate form, fitness, and tactical suitability at this moment in time.
Valery Karpin added five attackers to the expanded squad: Fedor Chalov from CSKA, Alexander Sobolev from Spartak, Vladimir Pisarsky from Krylya Sovetov, Konstantin Tyukavin from Dynamo, and Nikolai Komlichenko from Rostov.
Kokorin earned his first call-up to the national team in 2011. Over his international career, he has accumulated 47 caps and scored 12 goals, contributing in many qualifiers and friendlies alike.
Earlier in 2022, football’s global governing bodies imposed a broad decision that affected Russia, resulting in the exclusion of the national team and Russian clubs from FIFA and UEFA competitions under those bodies. This shift changed the landscape for players, national team selection, and the cadence of international football for a period of time.
There were also light comments in the past about other call-ups, including remarks regarding Quincy Promes and his status with the Russian national team, reflecting behind-the-scenes discussions about selection choices and player availability.