Russian fans haven’t seen the national team at their home arenas for a year and a half. More than 20 thousand spectators came to the game in St. Petersburg, who saw a strange first half and a magnificent second 45 minutes, which included Pinyaev’s enchanting goal.

You can look at this masterpiece forever!

New composition from Karpin

Karpin almost completely changed the composition for the match in St. Petersburg compared to what was in the game against Iran three days earlier. Only Osipenko, Litvinov and Glebov kept their places at the start. The head coach of the Russian national team did not hide that he was building a team for the future, so he was trying various options. This is a long and difficult process, during which you have to make sacrifices.

– A big responsibility to the fans. I want to please them. What is primary? A game. If it would be necessary to win 100%, then the composition would be different. Those who come out today are able to achieve results. People’s reactions are different. Group therapy exists, but everyone reacts differently. I am trying to work through the game. The fear of making a mistake is the worst thing, – quotes the words of Karpin “Match TV”.

The mentor of the Russians entrusted a place at the gate to Sergei Pesyakov. In defense, in addition to Osipenko and Litvinov, Silyanov and Denisov entered the field, and for Daniil it was a debut in the national team. Prutsev, Fomin and Glebov acted in midfield, Pinyaev and Oblyakov were responsible for the flanks of the attack, and Sobolev played the central forward.

Open video

Pesyakov brought, but Iraq was simply better

In the national team of Iraq, the main star is the Spanish coach Jesús Casas, who once helped Barcelona win many trophies. Admittedly, the Iraqis really tried to play in the Spanish style – technically, in a small pass. The first five minutes passed with a slight advantage of the Russians, but then the Iraqi team began to dominate the field.

Our goalkeeper Pesyakov helped her in this. Sergei twice in a short period of time managed to pass to Al-Zabuidi. In the first case, Litvinov took the ball off the ribbon with his head, and Osipenko saved it in the second position. Pesyakov, of course, apologized to his partners in every possible way, but Karpin was simply furious because of the game of his ward. Between the two mistakes of the goalkeeper of the Russian national team, Al-Zabuidi had one more moment, but the ball went a little past after his strike.

Open video

Only after that did the Russians finally start playing football. The main instigators were Pinyaev and Oblyakov. Ivan in one of the episodes famously threw an opponent between the legs and gave it to Fomin, who was not allowed to break through on goal. Unfortunately, this flash lasted five minutes maximum. In the middle of the half, Iraq had to score a goal. Litvinov and Osipenko made a gross mistake, which allowed Hussein to run out one on one with Pesyakov. The Russian national team was very lucky that the ball after hitting the Iraqi footballer hit the post.

Open video

Ours turned on in the end, but did not score

At the 32nd minute, Iraq had another chance to take the lead. Al-Kaabawi intercepted the ball in the center of the field, calmly ran to someone else’s penalty area and struck powerfully from the toe. Pesyakov hardly hit the ball in front of him, and on the second attempt he took it tightly. Our tried to answer and at times they combined great. Pinyaev scattered opponents on the flank and gave the ball to his teammates. After one of these episodes, Fomin aimed into the corner, but the goalkeeper of the Iraqi national team pulled out the heaviest ball.

Our decently crushed in the end of the first half. Corners went one by one, and with them the throws into the penalty area, but Iraq did not panic and defended confidently. The first half ended with a score of 0:0, and the game of the Russian team left mixed impressions. On the one hand, ours flashed brightly several times. On the other hand, Iraq as a whole was objectively better. Karpin had something to say to his players during the break.

Another team and Pinyaev’s masterpiece

Judging by how our team started the second half, the coaching staff of the Russian national team found the right words. Karpin released Anton Miranchuk on the field, who replaced Prutsev. In less than five minutes, Anton opened the scoring in the match. Oblyakov broke through from the flank and gave it to Sobolev, whose blow was repelled by Hassan, but Miranchuk was right there on the rebound – 1:0.

Open video

After scoring a goal, our players played even better. Sobolev and Pinyaev could distinguish themselves. Sergei, without scoring in the first moment, fully rehabilitated in the second. In the 58th minute, the young talent made an outstanding solo pass, beating the entire defense of the Iraqi national team along the way, and completed everything with a low kick right into the corner – 2:0. There is Pinyaev’s first goal in the Russian national team, who became the youngest scorer in the history of our national team.

Open video

Russian football players continued to destroy the opponent. Miranchuk and Osipenko had a furious moment in one attack. Anton wound up a defender in the penalty area and had to score, but the guests once again Hassan. He brilliantly coped with finishing off Osipenko. A couple of minutes later, Sobolev was unlucky. The ball after his header hit the crossbar.

Open video

It was very nice to watch the Russian team in the second half. For the first time in a long time, fans saw a really cool game performed by the national team, and the words of the Minister of Sports Oleg Matytsin about Karpin’s indifference to the national team seem to have lost all meaning.