A moment of truth approaches for the Russian national football team. Head coach Valeri Karpin`s squad is gearing up for two exceptionally challenging encounters. On Friday, October 10th, in Volgograd, Russia will play against Iran, a World Cup participant. This will be followed by a historic first-ever match against the Bolivian national team on October 14th in Moscow.
Four years after their last defeat against Croatia, Karpin`s charges have maintained an undefeated run spanning 20 matches. This period also includes an exhilarating eight-game winning streak where they outscored opponents 44-0. Not all of these adversaries were weak; the team secured decisive victories against nations like Serbia, Belarus, and Zambia. However, their October opponents present a stiffer challenge. Iran holds a higher FIFA ranking (21st compared to Russia`s 33rd) and historically has the upper hand in head-to-head encounters with Russia (one win, two draws). Bolivia, a South American representative, recently triumphed over Brazil. Russian national team head coach Valeri Karpin emphasized a crucial detail regarding Bolivia`s recent success:
“Bolivia defeated Brazil on home turf! At home, they tend to beat everyone. And I believe they would have beaten us there too. Playing at five thousand meters above sea level, where it`s challenging even to walk and breathe normally, makes taking their specific victory against Brazil at home as a direct measure not entirely accurate. Nevertheless, they are among the stronger national teams we`ve faced recently, comparable to Nigeria and Serbia. Both teams participated in the World Cup. Yes, they have stylistic differences. Iran is, let`s say, a more athletic, more intense team. Bolivia is more technical. In simple terms: who is harder to dispossess—the tall and powerful player or the small and agile one? You decide.”
Despite the challenges, many observers remain optimistic. I must admit that my concerns are in the minority. There`s a widespread expectation for new, brilliant results, fueled by the belief that the current national squad boasts a true abundance of «creative and aggressive players on the field.» CSKA and Lokomotiv Moscow each contribute five players to the roster. There are only three absences due to injury: Fomin, Litvinov, and Musaev have returned to their clubs for recovery. The air is thick with optimism, even when considering the formidable and resilient Iranian side. For instance, Ruslan Pimenov, a two-time Russian champion and a national team forward from the early 2000s, offered this prediction to Odds.ru portal:
“Iran is a very strong opponent. But! How did our national team look against Qatar? The guys played really well. The young players – Kislyak and co. – tore apart the opponent’s team, and Qatar had no answers whatsoever. When our team played quickly, the opponents had zero chances. I hope our team won`t slow down against Iran. All the team leaders are currently in excellent form. And I think with a full stadium, the pace, the power – everything will be there. I expect a big win.”
Iran doesn`t just rarely lose heavily; they are almost never defeated. After their World Cup loss to England three years ago, they suffered only one defeat in a qualifying tournament—and that was after securing their spot in the World Cup and fielding a reserve squad. Therefore, a victory for Russia, if it materializes, would place Karpin`s team on par with the pioneers of football. The only difference is that for the Persians, this upcoming match with Russia is merely a friendly.
Both October encounters for the Russian national team will be broadcast live on «Match TV,» with kick-off scheduled simultaneously at 8 PM local time.
