The former defender of Spartak and Lokomotiv, Roman Shishkin, told RB Sport that there would be sporting interest in the retro match between Zenit and the Russian national team at the Stavok League League of Legends, although such matches are arranged to popularize football, and not to fight.

– Although I was not at the Euro in 2008 due to injury and surgery, the RFU invited me because I participated in the qualifying matches. And if not for the injury, perhaps I would have gone to the final part. As for the upcoming game, I would not say that someone will just serve a number on the field and play for their own pleasure. Sports interest will also be present. In those veteran matches that have already taken place, we saw the level of martial arts, and the pace sometimes increased so that it could be compared with the RPL. So there won’t be any “walk”, although, of course, such matches are organized not for the result and some kind of “zab”, but more to popularize football.

Former stars are not forgotten, fans of both the current generation and the past gather for such matches. Many may associate their youth with veterans. So the story is very good, well done to the RFU for making such matches. In our difficult time, they come very much, – said Shishkin.

The match will take place on June 15 in St. Petersburg. The meeting will be held as part of the sports program of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and will be timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the victory of the Blue-White-Blues in the UEFA Cup and the bronze medals of the national team at Euro 2008.

The start of the League of Stavok League of Legends match is at 20:00 (Moscow time). The live broadcast will begin at 19:30 (Moscow time) on the federal TV channel Match TV, websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru. Gazprom Media Holding is the general media partner of SPIEF 2023.

• Bystrov did not rule out that in the retro match between Zenit and the Russian national team he will play for both teams