Valery Karpin: “2025 was the best year for the Russian national team since we were suspended”

Head coach of the Russian national football team Valery Karpin told Match TV that 2025 from all points of view was the best year for the national team since it was suspended from international competitions.

In 2025, the Russian national team played ten friendly matches, in which they won six victories, drew three times and suffered one defeat. The Russians’ opponents were the teams of Grenada (5:0), Zambia (5:0), Nigeria (1:1), Belarus (4:1), Jordan (0:0), Qatar (4:1), Iran (2:1), Bolivia (3:0), Peru (1:1), Chile (0:2).

Russian clubs and national teams have been banned from participating in tournaments under the auspices of UEFA and FIFA since 2022.

— From the point of view of the content of the game, from the point of view of the number of newcomers watched, the level of opponents, how would you rate the outgoing year on a scale of ten?

— I don’t like to evaluate on some scale. Without scales, I think 2025 was probably the best year since the suspension. From all the points of view you mentioned: the game, the opponents, the newcomers. This year we had eleven debutants, if I remember correctly.

– Separate team.

– Yes, a separate team. There were five training camps: in March, June, September, October, November. That is, if we take it on average, we get two debutants per training camp. Someone has become or is becoming established, like Kislyak, who made his debut this year. Some people attended only one training camp. Therefore, from the point of view of debutants, new players of the national team, 2025 gave a good increase,” Karpin said in an interview with Match TV.

Earlier, the President of the Russian Football Union (RFU), Alexander Dyukov, expressed hope that next year FIFA and UEFA, in connection with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will make a decision that will allow Russian clubs and national teams to take part in international competitions.

Watch the full interview with Valery Karpin on the program “Everyone for the Match!” on Match TV on December 30 at 15:30 Moscow time.