Valery Karpin assesses the upcoming international friendlies for the Russia team
Valery Karpin, the head coach guiding the Russian national team and the club squad from Rostov, shared his candid assessment of the next opponents Russia will face in friendly matches. His remarks were reported by Sports Express. He emphasized that the quality of resistance matters more than the results alone. When reviewing past fixtures, he noted a clear difference in competitiveness between games played against Cuba and games against Cameroon. This variability in opposition strength, he explained, can significantly influence how a match unfolds and what strategies teams must employ. He stressed that Serbia stands out as a particularly challenging test, a contest that could test the squad in many ways, from tactical organization to physical endurance. At the same time, he underscored that greater difficulty brings greater interest and learning opportunities for the team. He warned, however, that Paraguay should not be underestimated and may present a stout challenge to the Russians as well, given the context of their preparations for high level competition. Karpin clearly communicated that difficulty in matchups often illuminates a team’s character and depth, and he suggested that the Paraguayan side could be close in quality to Serbia in terms of how they press and defend.
The schedule for the next round of Russia national team fixtures includes a meeting with Serbia on March 21. The game is set to take place at the VTB Arena and is scheduled to kick off at 20.00 Moscow time. This encounter will be watched closely by fans and analysts who are eager to see how the team responds to a strong European opponent in a controlled, high-stakes environment. The venue in Moscow has been chosen to ensure a setting that allows the squad to test itself against a recognized international opponent in front of supporters and a global audience.
A few days later, on March 25, the Russian side will host Paraguay in another friendly match to continue their international learning process ahead of more competitive duties. The back-to-back fixtures are designed to provide meaningful benchmarks for evaluating progress, squad depth, and tactical integration under Karpin’s management. These matches are part of a broader plan to improve cohesion and performance across a group that has faced unique challenges on the international stage.
It is important to note the broader context in which these friendlies are taking place. In the spring of 2022, FIFA and UEFA decided to suspend the participation of the Russian national team and all Russian clubs in competitions governed by those bodies. The suspension has shaped how the team approaches international play, how opponents prepare for encounters with Russia, and how coaches structure training camps and match preparations. The current schedule reflects a focused effort to maintain continuity and provide meaningful exposure to high quality opponents while navigating the ongoing administrative realities.
Earlier remarks from Karpin have touched on selection and team-building questions. One topic that has drawn curiosity from fans and observers is the role of individual players and selections in the national squad. In particular, questions have been raised about why certain domestic league players are included or left out of the national team and how those choices influence the overall balance of the squad. These discussions are part of a broader dialogue about development, form, and the strategic direction of the national team under Karpin’s leadership.