The opponents are growing stronger, yet the Russian national team`s performance remains outstanding. While a meticulous sports observer might focus on shortcomings, the positive aspects of their recent match significantly outweighed any perceived flaws.
Indeed, there`s no arguing with the excellent result. Bolivia presented an intriguing opponent; they either lacked tactical understanding entirely or genuinely hailed from a distinctly different footballing tradition. Their method of transitioning from defense to attack, with unusually short passes, was quite remarkable. Nevertheless, they possessed their own merits, showcasing technical skill, activeness, and even attempts at pressing. Russia, however, truly delivered an impressive performance in October. Notably, the starting lineup was completely fresh, featuring no players from the previous match against Iran. While the earlier game saw a «railroad» themed squad (likely referencing Lokomotiv Moscow players), this time it was an «army» themed selection (suggesting CSKA Moscow players): Agkatsev, Beveev, Diveev, Lukin, Krugovoy, Oblyakov, Kislyak, Barinov, captain Alexey Miranchuk, Sergeev, and Sadulaev.
The scoreboard lit up in the 18th minute, with the elder Miranchuk initiating a fluid combination that Lechi Sadulaev clinically finished. By the 43rd minute, the captain himself found the back of the net, slotting home a rebound after a powerful strike from Barinov, marking Alexey`s tenth goal for the national squad. Shortly after the halftime break, Miranchuk, the match`s standout player, delivered an exquisite chipped pass to Birinov, who then headed it to Sergeev. Ivan promptly punished the visitors for their defensive lapses, securing Russia`s third goal. The final score accurately reflected the superior class of our «stars.» This victory was also a significant milestone, marking Russia`s first-ever win against a South American team, breaking a streak of seven defeats and four draws. The South American style of play has historically proven to be a particularly challenging one for Russia.
Despite the triumph, there were areas for improvement. Firstly, Russia allowed too many shots on their goal and granted opponents excessive time with the ball; a more aggressive defensive posture closer to the penalty area would have been more effective. In the latter half of the second period, Bolivia managed to seize the initiative, necessitating several crucial saves from FC Krasnodar’s goalkeeper, Agkatsev. Russia`s pressing game became less effective, affording the opposition considerable space. Furthermore, the team`s overall pace appeared somewhat diminished compared to their encounter with Iran. Substitutions, which included Silyanov, Osipenko, Gorshkov, Umyarov, Glushenkov, and Kuchaev after the break, did not significantly alter the flow of the game for the better. A minor disappointment was the attendance figure: only 20,000 spectators graced the beautiful Lev Yashin Stadium, whereas a match in Volgograd had drawn 22,000 more.
With this match, Moscow has concluded its international football fixtures until next year. The national team is now set to play two more matches in November: on the 12th in St. Petersburg against Peru, followed three days later by a clash with Chile at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi.
