Lokomotiv striker Artem Dzyuba is not needed by the Russian national team today, former Manchester United football player Andrey Kanchelskis told RB Sport.

On Sunday, the communications service of the Russian Football Union (RFU) told Match TV that the RFU and the Iranian Football Federation had agreed on the date of the friendly match of national teams – March 23 in Tehran. At the moment, the parties are completing the preparation and coordination of all necessary documents and details of the meeting.

– I am glad that we will play with Iran – this is a good opponent. You can forget about European sparring for a few years, they cannot be held now.

As for Artem Dziuba, he is not needed in the Russian national team today. What’s the point? Better let the youth play than him. I do not consider Artem the most scandalous person in the history of Russian football. Well, he says something, isn’t it possible to speak out or have your own opinion? Let them call him when we play in the selection for the European Championship or the World Cup – he will help there, ”Kanchelskis said.

At the end of February 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian teams and clubs from participating in international tournaments due to the situation in Ukraine. The RFU considered the possibility of moving to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), but it was decided to create a working group with the participation of representatives of UEFA and FIFA, which will discuss in more detail the prospects for Russian football. On February 1, 2023, the AFC Congress was held in Manama (Bahrain), where the head of the RFU, Alexander Dyukov, was present.