New expectations for Russia’s friendlies with Serbia and Paraguay
Reports from Euro-Futbol.Ru quote former Lokomotiv Moscow forward Dmitry Bulykin, who predicts a high-scoring clash as Russia meets Serbia. He notes that both squads are likely to field their strongest lineups, which could translate into multiple goals on the scoreboard.
The Russian team, coached by Valery Karpin, is scheduled to face Serbia in a friendly at the VTB Arena with the kickoff set for 20:00 Moscow time. The squad features a mix of players based in Europe and those competing in the Russian Premier League, including Daler Kuzyaev, Alexander Golovin, Alexey Miranchuk, and Arsen Zakharyan who have been included in the roster alongside domestic talents. The match promises a valuable test of form for the squad ahead of upcoming fixtures [Citation: Euro-Futbol.Ru].
A second friendly in the calendar follows on March 25, when Russia is slated to play Paraguay, offering another chance to evaluate the squad’s balance and depth under competitive conditions.
Historically, the Russian national team faced a long interruption in international play after FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia from participation in all sanctioned competitions in spring 2022. The most recent official match prior to the suspension took place in Zagreb, a World Cup qualifier against Croatia that ended in a 0-1 defeat for Russia. This context underscores the significance of the current matches as the team seeks to rebuild cohesion and regain international standing [Citation: FIFA/UEFA records].
It is noted that Valery Karpin, who previously held the role of head coach for the Serbian national team, remains a notable figure in football circles. His approach and decisions continue to be discussed among fans and analysts as Russia charts its progress on the international stage [CITATION NEEDED].