Viktor Melekhin, a defender for Rostov, spoke about his inclusion in an expanded list for Russia’s national team in November 2022, detailing how timing and readiness shaped the moment. The comments reveal a candid assessment of his own standing and the broader national conversation around selection during a period of upheaval in Russian football.
He reflected, in his own words, that he wasn’t prepared for a national team call-up at that earlier point, suggesting that the decision to include players hinges on a broader sense of current form and readiness rather than on potential alone. He implied that if his level had matched the needed standard, the coach would have extended an invitation. This sentiment underscores the discipline and self-awareness that coaches value when considering players for international duty.
Melekhin acknowledged the level of the squad and recognized that he is not yet at the same stage as players like Smolov and Kokorin. He noted that Smolov and Kokorin had probably already taken part in their matches and offered a respectful nod to their opinions about the national setup in the current climate. The defender expressed a strong personal desire to experience the emotions of standing for his country, listening to the national anthem, and feeling the moment that many aspiring footballers dream of—an experience he believes every young player longs for as part of their career path.
He added a resolute statement about his ambition: if such an opportunity arises again, he would seize it with unwavering resolve, heading into the challenge with clear eyes and full commitment. The message captures a blend of humility, ambition, and readiness that often characterizes athletes while navigating the difficult politics of national-team selections amid disruptions to regular football schedules.
In 2022, Melekhin was not included in the final national-team list announced by head coach Stanislav Karpin. At the same time, prominent voices within Russian football, including Alexander Kokorin and Fedor Smolov, suggested in various interviews that the current situation did not warrant a call-up for them. Their perspectives reflect a cautious stance toward national-team responsibilities during a period of external constraints and organizational changes tied to international competition structures.
Earlier in 2022, FIFA and UEFA elected to suspend Russian clubs and the national team from all competitions under their purview, a decision that reverberated through the domestic game and national team planning. During the suspension, the Russian squad engaged in a series of friendly fixtures against clubs and selections from the Middle East and Asia, a schedule designed to maintain competitive rhythm and evaluate a broader swarm of players who could potentially contribute to the national program once sanctions and sanctions-related travel issues eased. This phase illustrated how national-team strategy sometimes pivots on external governance, diplomacy of sport, and the practicalities of scheduling when formal competition is temporarily unavailable.
The story around Melekhin also intersects with reports that he transferred to Zenit in a broader reshaping of club affiliations and player pathways within Russian football, a move that would influence his visibility and potential national-team prospects as the domestic calendar progresses and the international scene stabilizes. The discourse around his inclusion, and the wider national-team conversation, remains a snapshot of a moment when performance, readiness, and timing converge with governance and international sport dynamics in Russia.