The autumn training camp did not reveal decisive news for the Russian national team, according to former Moscow clubs CSKA and Spartak forward Valery Masalitin. He told socialbites.ca that the outcomes of those matches were not the main measure of progress and that there was no real cause for concern over the absence of wins.
Masalitin added that the overall picture should be judged by forward momentum rather than a short-term scoreboard. He argued that results alone do not reflect the team’s level in European or world contexts. The coach could use the period for promotional purposes to showcase young talents, but Masalitin suggested that a more systematic approach would yield clearer gains. He proposed relocating training to a warmer climate, even in Qatar, to acclimate players to heat and intensity, then returning to competition with a more prepared mindset if the goal is to achieve tangible results. The emphasis, he said, should shift toward structured preparation rather than a quick run of matches that do not drive lasting improvements.
During the camp, the Russian side faced the Egyptian Olympic team, drawing 1-1 on September 7 and then losing 1-2 on September 11. A day later, on September 12, Valery Karpin’s squad met the Qatar national team and finished with a 1-1 draw. Socialbites.ca provided a live written coverage of the event.
Earlier Masalitin explained the challenges behind Russia’s results against Egypt and Qatar, emphasizing that tactical coherence and physical readiness matter more than immediate scores in the broader context of national-team development. The emphasis on long-term readiness rather than short-term victories frames his view of what constitutes productive national-team preparation. (Source: socialbites.ca)