The former St. Petersburg Zenit player and Russian national team member Vladimir Bystrov labeled Russia missing the 2024 European Championship qualifying as one of the most painful moments for Russian football in recent memory. He expressed his perspective in an interview with Match TV, emphasizing that the absence from Euro qualifiers was a central disappointment of the year for the sport in the country.
From Bystrov’s point of view, the inability of the national squad to compete in the European qualifying rounds represented more than a missed opportunity on the field. It underscored deeper challenges faced by the development of Russian football at the highest level. His remarks reflect a sentiment shared by many fans and former players who believe that international competitive experience is essential for growth, resilience, and creating value for the sport domestically.
Looking ahead to the 2024 European Championship, the tournament is scheduled to take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14. The event will feature matches hosted across several major German cities, including Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Cologne, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Munich, and Stuttgart. The global stage of Euro 2024 highlights the ongoing competition among European nations and the role of national teams in shaping the sport’s prestige within their countries and beyond.
During a December board meeting of the Russian Football Union, discussions focused on strategic direction and the rationale behind certain decisions. The board members concluded that pursuing options to move the federation’s teams into Asian competitions without explicit guarantees from FIFA would be imprudent. The decision underscores the importance of aligning national football projects with the governing bodies that oversee international play and the consequences that sanctioning bodies can have on a nation’s football program.
The suspension of Russia’s participation in FIFA and UEFA competitions began in the spring of 2022. Since that time, Russian clubs and the national team have primarily engaged in friendly matches against foreign opponents. The focus for 2024 includes a planned fixture with the Serbian national team, illustrating continued efforts to maintain competitive readiness and to provide players with meaningful international experience despite the broader restrictions in place.
In the wake of these developments, various stakeholders have voiced opinions about the future of Russian football. Calls for strengthening youth development, improving domestic leagues, and ensuring that top players gain exposure through international clashes remain prominent. While the absence from major qualifiers constitutes a setback, it also serves as a catalyst for evaluating organizational structures, coaching strategies, and investment in facilities that can nurture talent for a future return to top-level European competition. The overall aim is to preserve the sport’s competitive integrity and to position the national program for sustainable growth whenever it is able to re-enter the international stage. Observers note that progress in domestic football—rising youth participation, better league governance, and stronger partnerships with clubs—will be essential steps toward that eventual re-engagement with Europe’s premier events. The long view for Russian football centers on resilience, strategic planning, and a consistent commitment to developing players who can compete at high levels when opportunities arise.