“At this stage, it was not necessary to wait for concessions”: the Russian team will not take part in the Euro 2024 qualifying draw

In a few days, the Russian national football team will play the first match in 2022.

In Bishkek, the wards of Valery Karpin will play with rivals from Kyrgyzstan, but they will take the field in a clearly not in the best mood.

After all, on September 20, it became finally known that, after the World Cup in Qatar, the national team will also miss Euro 2024 in Germany.

“The Russian team will not take part in the draw for the qualifying round of the European Championship 2024, which will be held on October 9 in Frankfurt.

The reason is the February decision of UEFA to suspend the performances of Russian teams and clubs in competitions under the auspices of the organization, which is valid by default “until further notice,” according to a message published on the official website of the Russian Football Union (RFU).

As noted in the organization, this verdict of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) was challenged in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but Lausanne refused to satisfy the appeal.

“Currently, the Union is awaiting the full text of the CAS decision, following the study of which a decision will be made on further steps within the framework of legal protection,” the RFU added.

The topic of not allowing Russia to the Euro 2024 draw emerged last week.

The President of the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF), Andriy Pavelko, confirmed that the organization had applied to UEFA with a demand not to allow the Ukrainian team to participate in the ceremony and thereby deprive it of the opportunity to qualify for the second major international tournament in a row.

And although some experts seriously doubted that the European Union would listen to this request, the result was disappointing.

Thus, even if the suspension is lifted in the next few months, the chance to qualify for competition in Germany is unlikely to present itself.

One of the first to comment on the news about the non-admission to the draw was the head coach of the national team Valery Karpin, who, together with his wards, began preparing for a friendly match with Kyrgyzstan.

According to the coach, the UEFA verdict will not affect the plans of the national team.

“Nothing has changed.

Even if we don't come back soon.

We must be ready.

My opinion hasn't changed.

When 50 people started calling me, I realized that something had happened.

And I saw the news.

Were you expecting another?

Yes, we hoped, but the decision was not a surprise.

How did the players react?

They had theory and training,” Karpin said at a press conference.

Subsequently, the information reached the players, whose reaction was more emotional.

As Spartak forward Alexander Sobolev said, in the current conditions, it is increasingly difficult for Russian athletes to maintain the maximum level of motivation, but he stressed that the development of the team should not be forgotten.

“It’s hard to answer the question about the suspension.

Just learned from you.

We play for European cups, for the national team.

And now it's gone.

But we will try to motivate ourselves.

Still need to get together.

Lots of new guys, some are graduating.

We need to meet, ”said Sobolev.

His colleague Fyodor Chalov spoke in a similar vein.

According to the CSKA striker, he was not surprised by the development of the situation and noted that the athletes need to disengage from external stimuli and continue to prepare for the trip to Bishkek.

“We are football players and we want to play football.

While not very upset, probably, then the realization will come.

This was generally expected.

Therefore, we are preparing for Kyrgyzstan.

Many new guys, coach, requirements.

These are game moments.

Another tactic.

We need to adapt, ”Chalov expressed his opinion.

It is not surprising that the UEFA verdict was perceived negatively in the Russian football community, although the majority did not count on a different outcome.

The suspension came as no surprise to either 2008 European bronze medalist Andrei Arshavin or former Manchester United midfielder Andrei Kanchelskis.

According to the ex-midfielder of Celta Alexander Mostovoy, it was impossible to hope for a positive result, because at the moment all domestic sports are under sanctions.

“It was unrealistic.

The draw in October - and we would suddenly be admitted for no reason at all.

We have banned all sports.

If UEFA opened football now, then others should be opened.

Who will go for it?

- quotes Mostovoy "Championship".

Boris Ignatiev, the former head coach of the national team, did not believe in a miracle either.

According to him, he has a negative attitude to the position of UEFA, but otherwise everything could hardly have turned out.

“It was clear that at this stage it was not necessary to wait for concessions.

Look at the reaction to organizing a friendly match with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Athletes express dissatisfaction with this fact.

Someone wants to take part in this meeting, someone doesn’t, ”Ignatiev told RT.

Honored coach of the country Gadzhi Gadzhiev agreed with him.

The president of Dynamo Makhachkala understood that UEFA was unlikely to go against the tide and express support for Russia.

“I expected it to end like this.

Based on the reaction that we see from the EU, the US, which has a serious impact on the whole life of our world.

It has long been clear that all decisions are political.

And it was not serious to expect that in this situation everything would turn out differently, ”said RT Gadzhiev.

At the same time, former CSKA midfielder Alexander Grishin hoped for favor from football organizations.

“Honestly, I thought that FIFA and UEFA would take a different look at this problem, draw different conclusions and the Russian team would be allowed to draw for the European Championship.

However, a different decision was made.

Of course, this is all very sad, ”said Grishin.

At the same time, most experts agree on one thing: the team must continue to work, despite the suspension.

This includes both training camps and friendly matches.

In this case, we can talk about sparring with representatives of other confederations, as well as with local clubs.

“You need to prepare, and for this you need to have constant competitive practice.

And not only at the club level.

Athletes need to be brought together and allowed to build rapport with each other.

It doesn't matter who will be the opponent in these friendly matches - Spartak or Zenit.

In a word, it is necessary to continue to single out the players who will aspire to this team.

Explain that it exists right here and now, and not when the suspension is lifted.

Otherwise, the train will leave, ”Ignatiev believes.

In turn, Grishin is sure that in connection with the current state of affairs, the coaching staff of the national team needs to think not only about future sparring, but also about the development of the team as a whole.

“Certainly, you need to play friendly matches, stay active ... Maybe it’s worth taking on the process of rejuvenation.

In 2024, some members of the team will have already reached a solid age by football standards, and it’s not a fact that they will be competitive by 2026,” Grishin said.

At the same time, experts do not exclude that the current situation may have far-reaching consequences.

In particular, to make some athletes think about playing for other countries.

At the same time, the same Ignatiev believes that this phenomenon is unlikely to be widespread.

“Private moments are inevitable, but it cannot be prevented.

People want to play.

And now there are enough examples when our athletes represent other teams - the same Eduard Spertsyan, Khoren Bayramyan.

There is nothing criminal here.

The goal of any footballer is to play in the Champions League and for the national team.

It's money, it's prestige.

For our part, we need to do everything possible so that they do not go en masse to other teams.

But if this is a real Russian footballer, then he will stay.

Let the others leave, ”concluded the specialist.

In turn, Hajiyev called the inability to represent his country in the international arena a "hard blow" for any football player.

But at the same time, he emphasized that the transfer of Russians to other teams does not upset him.

“There will be no mass exodus from the RPL, just in certain tournaments some athletes may decide to play for other teams.

If we talk about the CIS countries, I still look at them as close to us.

Look how many Armenians, Georgians, Azerbaijanis, Kyrgyz live in Russia.

I don't see anything wrong with some players playing for these teams.

After all, they will still remain in the RPL.

I look negatively at the decision of FIFA and UEFA, political performances.

And I rate this as normal, ”added the functionary.