Valery Karpin’s Motivated Start to a Russia National Team Campaign
Valery Karpin, who leads the Russian national football squad, spoke about his drive to guide the team through its current cycle. In a briefing with Sports Express, he emphasized that motivation is not scarce for him. He described a strong interest in pushing players to prove what they can do under present circumstances, and he pointed to the opportunity to assess both strengths and gaps within the squad.
In recent fixtures, Russia reclaimed momentum with a 1-1 draw against Qatar on September 12. The match featured a late drama as Ahmed Alaa, a 30-year-old forward with roots in Abu Cairo Samad, opened the scoring for the visitors in the second half. The response for Russia came in the closing moments when Alexander Soldatenkov, a 26-year-old defender with a history at Samara Krylya Sovetov, capitalized on a corner to level the score in the 90th minute. The equalizer underscored the team’s resilience and the ongoing need for cohesion in set-piece situations and late-game transitions.
Earlier in September, Russia also faced the Egyptian Olympic team twice, ending in a 1-1 draw and a 1-2 result. These matches provided Karpin with valuable exposure to a variety of tactical setups and a pool of emerging players who could potentially contribute at the senior international level. The coaching staff used the opportunities to evaluate squad depth and individual development, aiming to translate positive performances into results in more demanding competitions ahead.
With the September training camp behind them, Russian players will soon return to their clubs to resume domestic and international duties. The cycle ahead will involve refining tactics, monitoring player workload, and preparing the roster for upcoming fixtures that test both form and fitness. The organizational approach reflects a broader plan to balance experimentation with stability, ensuring the national team remains competitive on the regional and global stages.
In parallel, the technical leadership under Valery Gazzaev was observed as part of ongoing trials to assess the coaching staff structure and potential adjustments. The discussions focused on optimizing leadership roles, lineup selection, and player development pathways that align with Russia’s broader football objectives. This phase of evaluation is viewed as essential to building a cohesive group that can execute a consistent game plan across different opponents and competition formats. [Source: Sports Express]