Balakhnin: “I can’t call the match with the Cuban national team an exciting spectacle, but now we can’t choose opponents”

Former coach of the Russian national football team Sergei Balakhnin does not consider the national team’s victory in a friendly match with the Cuban team an exciting spectacle.

The meeting, held on Monday in Volgograd, ended with a score of 8:0. The match was attended by just over 40 thousand people.

— Was it interesting for you to watch such a match?

– To be honest, not really. I can’t say it was a breathtaking sight.

— Didn’t it seem to you that the Russian team did not play to its full potential?

— It was difficult to play better, because, in fact, the game was one-sided. Our team was unerring against such opponents. The guys attacked well and scored a lot of goals. I won’t say that everything worked out perfectly in attack, but the opponent allowed a lot.

— Is it even worth playing with such opponents? What can such a game give?

– Costs. It’s not even a matter of which opponent, because we can’t choose now. Therefore, what is, is. It is important to get together, play with any teams and show that our team is alive. Then the players will strive to get there. This is the pinnacle of our football. It motivates.

— They wrote that our team could play with someone from the BRICS countries next year. It would be interesting?

— I don’t consider the Brazilian national team. There is a waiting list of people who want to play with them for 10 years. So this option is definitely out of the question. South Africa is not the strongest team, although it would be interesting to see. It would also be possible to play against the Chinese team. Even if this is not the best option. Apart from Brazil, all other BRICS national teams are mediocre. But you still have to play if possible. Rivals are no longer so important. Now we still can’t play with strong teams. Therefore, the choice remains small,” Euro-Futbol.Ru quotes Balakhnin.