Alexander Golovin, a midfielder for the Russian national team, voiced optimism that European clubs would be eager to arrange matches with Russia following the Serbia encounter. He emphasized the need for the squad to raise its level, become more composed, and confront any lingering nerves when facing strong opposition. “I hope that after the Serbia game other European teams want to play with us. We also need to improve, look more confident, and learn to cope with fear,” he said.
The fixture unfolded at Moscow’s VTB Arena and finished with a convincing 4-0 victory for the hosts. The Russian side took control early and never relinquished it. Goals were delivered by Anton Miranchuk, Maxim Osipenko, and Alexey Miranchuk, the latter converting from the penalty spot. In the 88th minute, Arsen Zakharyan headed the ball into the Serbian net, but the goal was ruled out due to an offside infringement by Ivan Sergeev. Yet, in stoppage time, Sergeev would still claim the sighting reward, capitalizing on a rebound to seal the win for Russia.
Early in the game, the Serbian side faced a setback when Milan Gajic, a defender from CSKA Moscow, was sent off in the 21st minute, putting the visitors at a numerical disadvantage for the majority of the match.
Former professional Vladislav Radimov, known for his St. Petersburg roots and his tenure with Zenit, remarked that Russia has the capability to defeat any opponent on any given day. His assessment underscored a growing belief within the Russian camp that the squad was developing the resilience and technical accuracy needed to compete at a high level on the European stage. The momentum from this victory was seen as a signal that the team could translate domestic strength into positive outcomes against a range of international foes, a notion that resonated with fans and analysts alike. [Citation: Russian Football Federation press release]