The Russian national team is losing the opportunity to play with the Bosnians, but it rushes in one more direction, where its eyes have not even looked before. Ahead is the match with the team of Tajikistan, which both teams undertake to play with the strongest squads. In the new list of players, the next newcomers.

All this may seem like a pitiful imitation. They took away the real thing from adults and gave them a toy, so the choice is sad: you can have fun with trifles, or you can do nothing at all. But, by the way, the phantom story with the match against the Bosnians was not entirely empty. The mere opportunity of our football teams meeting seems to have helped the “pro-Russian” politician Milorad Dodik win the October elections in the Republika Srpska.

But what are we to do with it? We continue to play our friendly matches without the right to call them control. And as if cautiously looking back at each other: who will be the first to say out loud that this occupation is empty, will refuse, causing a chain reaction according to the domino principle? Something like football player Zobnin, who said it in plain text: while the national team does not have real matches, I, they say, have chronic pain, I can’t play.

Roman Zobnin and Thomas Delaney in the match between the national teams of Russia and Denmark / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Vladimir Pesnya

The most interesting and scary thing is to look at Karpin at the same time. Known for his directness, firmness and purely rationality, the coach, it would seem, should have long ago said that there is no time for meaningless exercises. It is necessary to deal with Rostov, where only ours play now. There, in fact, he has another Russian team. Only participating in regular and official tournaments.

And Karpin, you know, continues to make plans for the national team. Make lists of candidates and conduct training. I would like to ask: Valery Georgievich, are you serious? Is it really so important and exciting for you?

To imagine his affirmative answers to all these questions, I recall that brief but bright time when Karpin was the “head coach” of our commentators department. He taught me to look at many things from the other side. Breaking amateurish stereotypes. For example, this: it is believed that after the victory the coach should be satisfied with the game. And Karpin taught: never look at one result. You don’t know how many factors it consists of. Behind the three points earned, sometimes there is no special meaningful work, but there are mistakes and a game of chance.

Karpin kept repeating: the state in which the coach is satisfied with the result, but not satisfied with the game is normal. It happens all the time with coaches. And a look at football that purports to be deep, intense, and professional is bound to distinguish what the team wanted to do on the pitch from what they ended up doing.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Alexei Filippov

What is it for? Moreover, such a view of the national team is considered common place, in which it is good and needed when it is going on business, defeating understandable rivals and entering some major tournaments. We have such a team – good. No, bad.

Do you remember, 10 years ago, our team defeated the Italian team in Zurich 3:0 just before the European Championship? Then we had the right to say to ourselves: we have a super team. But three weeks passed, and the superteam did not leave the group. One result is easily canceled by another, and then both disappear from memory. What should be left?

Coach Karpin has now put aside all these forms of strict accountability. He lost interest in the fact that “Princess Marya Aleksevna would start talking about this.” Has ceased to work on the result deprived of sense. And he is busy with the process itself: the selection and evaluation of players, training, conversations. This is coaching happiness in its purest form! This is what Karpin has always appreciated!

Let’s simplify: now, when the national team is not competing with anyone, coach Karpin teaches the players in it to be the players of the national team.

After a confused team in Bishkek, I want to see a team in Dushanbe that is self-confident and enjoys playing on the field. After all, getting pleasure, the team gives it to us.

And it is especially important at such a difficult time to encourage everything alive, bright and healthy in our football. That is why it is great that the most prominent players immediately appear in the current team, which has become, in fact, the national team of Russian clubs. If Sychevoi in Orenburg is fighting for the scorer’s prize with Promes and Malcolm, how can you get past such a Sychev now? And here he is on the team. Samara prodigy Pinyaev has grown so strong that he is no longer lost on the field surrounded by adult men: to the national team! In the end, in the same “Manchester United”, where Sergey has repeatedly traveled for internships, a young man like him is already scoring in the Europa League from the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo. So it’s time!