Valery Gazzaev, who previously led CSKA Moscow, reflected on the friendly match between Russia and Qatar, emphasizing that the national team should aim for victory. The veteran coach made clear that results in friendlies still matter and that simply showing togetherness does not satisfy his expectations for the squad. He stressed that wins in these fixtures carry weight for the team’s confidence and cohesion, especially as the program moves through a busy cycle of international dates. The comment was reported by a sports news outlet at the time of the post-match analysis.
Gazzaev questioned whether the lingering sense of unity among players should be interpreted as proof of the team’s existence. He argued there is no room for complacency and said that the emphasis should be on securing wins, not just on building a sense of camaraderie. He urged the squad to treat every friendly as a genuine opportunity to prove themselves and to demonstrate that they can prevail in competitive situations.
On September 12, Russia held Qatar to a 1-1 draw. The second-half opener came from Ahmed Alaa, a 30-year-old forward with ties to the Abu Cairo Semad club. Following a corner kick, Alexander Soldatenkov, a 26-year-old defender for Krylya Sovetov Samara, leveled the score in stoppage time at the 90th minute, preserving a result that allowed Russia to collect a point from the match. The late equalizer was greeted with mixed reactions, as some observers viewed it as a positive sign of resilience, while others pressed for more decisive performances against a similar-caliber opponent.
Earlier in September, Russia also faced the Egyptian Olympic team twice, settling for a draw in one game and narrowly losing the other, with scores of 1-1 and 1-2 respectively. These September fixtures formed part of a broader camp designed to test tactical ideas, evaluate players under international pressure, and sharpen the team’s readiness for upcoming events on the calendar. The squad that trained together through the month completed the camp with a sense of progress, even as critics noted room for improvement in attack efficiency and transition play.
As the September camp concluded, Russian national team players began preparations to return to their club teams for the start of the underway season. A return to domestic duties was anticipated after a period dedicated to international duty, training, and match practice. The staff and players were expected to balance club commitments with national-team duties, ensuring that the squad stayed sharp across both spheres.
Earlier comments from Valery Karpin, the head coach associated with the national side in recent years, had touched on questions of motivation and leadership within the team. Those remarks prompted discussion about the coaching philosophy, the level of player commitment, and the best ways to sustain performance across a demanding international calendar. The overall narrative from these exchanges centered on the goal of building a cohesive, capable squad that can deliver results in both friendlies and competitive qualifiers. This ongoing discourse reflects the challenges of guiding a national team through transitional phases, evaluating emerging talents, and maintaining a competitive edge on the world stage.