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Scene from the game between Russia and Serbia
Photo: Grigory Sysoev / SNA / IMAGO
The Russian national football team has won its first international match against a European team since the invasion of Ukraine. Sbornaja beat Serbia 4-0 (2-0) in Moscow on Thursday. The goals for the hosts were scored by Anton Mirantschuk (22nd minute), Maksim Osipenko (32nd), Aleksei Mirantschuk (55th) and Ivan Sergeyev (90th + 1). Serbian defender Milan Gajić was shown a red card after a foul in the first half.
Because of the war, Russia has been banned from all competitive international matches by the football associations Fifa and UEFA. However, UEFA allowed the friendly match on Thursday. UEFA boss Aleksander Čeferin expressed his unconcern in a “Guardian” interview. "Now they're playing a friendly game: so what?" said the UEFA boss.
Serbia gets signing bonus
The result should also be included in the world rankings created by FIFA. Despite the war in Ukraine, relations between Belgrade and Moscow are still considered friendly. Serbia has not participated in Western sanctions against Russia. Serbia received a signing bonus of 250,000 euros for the short trip to Russia.
In the last two years, the Russian team has only played a few friendly games against associations from other continents - such as Iraq, Iran, Cuba and Cameroon. European teams have not yet taken part; a planned test match against Bosnia-Herzegovina has not yet been completed. At times, Moscow even flirted with transitioning to the Asian continental association AFC.
It wasn't just tested in Moscow: Portugal easily defeated Sweden 5:2 (3:0). Only in the final phase of the party were the Scandinavians able to offer some resistance. In further test matches, Montenegro beat Belarus 2-0. Cyprus and Latvia drew 1-1, Malta and Slovenia 2-2.
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