Russian national team head coach Valery Karpin says he’s expecting a tough test from Nigeria when both teams clash in Thursday’s BetBoom friendly at Luzhniki Stadium, despite the Super Eagles missing several key players.
Karpin, speaking ahead of the match, insisted that his team would stick to their style of play regardless of the opponent.
“It does not matter who we play – Nigeria or Serbia – we want to do the things that we practice in training,” Karpin said. “It is more difficult to press against Serbia or Cameroon than, for example, Grenada or Brunei. But the requirements are always the same.”
The Russian coach admitted he now has more time to assess players and prepare for national team duties after leaving club football.
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“Personally, my preparation for the national team matches changed after I was no longer at the club’s disposal,” he said. “I was able to independently review the candidates, attend matches, and study the Nigerian national team’s recent games under their new coach.”
While Nigeria will be without stars like Victor Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi, Karpin pointed out that Russia also had its share of absentees.
“Our leaders – Diveev, Golovin – did not come either,” he noted. “We prepare the way we should, taking into account the characteristics of a particular team.”
When asked about goalkeeper Matvei Safonov’s return from Paris Saint-Germain, Karpin played down the significance of his recent trophy haul.
“It just so happened that he went to a top club and won. If his contribution to these victories was really significant, that would be a different matter,” Karpin said. “It is too early to say that he brought the club all three titles.”
Still, Karpin confirmed Safonov is fit and “planned to play” against Nigeria.
He also touched on the team’s defensive form, with Russia yet to concede in recent matches, but insisted there was no pressure to maintain a clean sheet.
“Not a word will be said about a record, or about the need to play ‘nil’,” he said. “The goal is the same: play so that they don’t score against us, and we score more.”
Friday’s ’s match at Luzhniki marks a return to a historic venue for the national team, but Karpin said emotional connections would vary.
“Probably, it does evoke feelings in the coaching staff – after all, there are memories, for example, of the match with Croatia,” he said. “But for many footballers this is new.”
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