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Valery Karpin invited almost 50 football players to the national team's September training camp, which greatly stunned everyone. However, the coach is building a national team for the future, so right now there is a great opportunity to inject fresh blood.
The presence of so many players is easily explained. The Russian Football Union (RFU) spent a long time looking for opponents for the national team and ended up going a little overboard. The national team will play three matches in six days. A standard clip will not be able to handle such a load.
The first meeting took place the day before. Karpin's team was opposed by the Egyptian Olympic team. The closest reserve of the national team fought both with the opponent and with the sweltering heat — the game began at plus 38 degrees Celsius.
The result of the experiment was a draw with a score of 1:1. The Russians trailed from the seventh minute and won back at the beginning of the second half thanks to a goal from Stepan Oganesyan. The return match will take place on September 11. True, Karpin himself will not be there — the team will be led by Viktor Onopko and Yuri Nikiforov. The head coach with a more experienced squad will go to Qatar. The meeting with the hosts of the last world championship will take place on September 12.
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Behind the numerous jokes addressed to the coaching staff, many did not pay attention to the positive aspect. Karpin, even setting the upper age limit (the oldest of the field players, Georgiy Dzhikia, is not yet 30 years old), still gathered almost five dozen football players. Moreover, most of them are the main ones in RPL clubs.
The reform of youth football and the reduction in the attractiveness of the championship for foreign players have had a positive impact on the playing time of Russians. This gives the coach a choice. Gone are the days when all over the country could scrape together only three central defenders for the national team. » />
Of course, not everyone matches the level of the country's main team. However, for many of them, this is a chance to show their best side in front of the coaching staff. They will feel the atmosphere of the national team and receive a serious incentive for progress.
This is also a good opportunity for Karpin and his assistants to see newcomers in the training process. Players' abilities and suitability can be better understood. And personal acquaintance with the coach gives a lot of food for thought — who reacts correctly to instructions and tips, who is focused on progress, and who takes the challenge for granted.
The team even needed such a gathering no matches. Although such meetings, with not the most outstanding opponents, are also useful for young people. Someone will put on a national team jersey for the first time and feel the atmosphere of international matches. It will receive a serious impulse or at least leave this moment in memory for the rest of its life.
Karpin is building a new team that will return Russia to the world arena after sanctions are lifted. The main thing is to find the right players who are ready to fight for the country and progress. Psychology at this stage of development is more important than tactics, and matches against Egypt and Qatar will test the strength of young football players. Whoever passes it will be the leader of the team in a few years. Their journey begins now.
The author’s opinion may not coincide with the position of the editors