Playing Thailand and Vietnam is better than having no games at all: Russian football coach

Coach Valery Karpin (R) talks to a player during a game of Russia in 2022. Photo by Reuters

Russia will play Vietnam on Sept. 5 and Thailand on Sept. 7 at My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi in a friendly tournament. Some Russian coaches and former players underestimated the two matches, saying that the national team would not benefit from playing against two teams much weaker than them.

Russia are 33rd on FIFA world ranking, 68 places higher than Thailand and 82 places above Vietnam.

In response to this opinion, coach Karpin affirmed that he wants the best for Russia, but most suitable opponents have already filled their schedule for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers or friendlies. Only 28 teams are available to compete with Russia. In terms of FIFA ranking, Thailand and Vietnam are second and fourth in this list.

“The options are not at the level of France,” Karpin told Match TV on Aug. 24. “Other options are even worse, like Sri Lanka or Bhutan.”

The 55-year-old coach believes that it’s better to play Thailand and Vietnam than to have no games at all. He affirmed that he wanted to play in Russia against stronger opponents, but critics have to be realistic. If there are no games, people will have nothing to discuss. Then they will continue to ask why the team could not find any opponent.

“We always want the best for the national team. We couldn’t play against stronger opponents simply because it’s impossible,” Karpin added.

The conflict with Ukraine got the Russian national teams and clubs banned by FIFA and UEFA from February 2022. They have not been allowed to participate in World Cup or Euro qualifiers. Many European teams also refused to play Russia, except for countries such as Serbia or Belarus.

Coach Karpin has made a preliminary list of 38 players for the friendlies in Hanoi. He will shorten the list to 25 before going to Vietnam.

Karpin has been the head coach of the Russian national team and domestic club Rostov since 2021. The Russian Football Union originally wanted Karpin to focus on the national team, but the ban from FIFA allowed him to work in Rostov as well. On June 28, 2024, Karpin extended his contract with the national team until July 2028.

Karpin is a famous former Russian midfielder who played 72 matches for the national team. From 1994 to 2005, he played in Spain’s top league La Liga for Real Sociedad, Valencia and Celta Vigo.