The Russian national team played a friendly match in Vietnam against the home team. Heat, high humidity, poor pitch – everything was there. Despite this, the victory was unconditional (3-0). This is how their heroes commented on the game.
Coach Valery Karpin was ironic as always: “Unusual weather conditions for our players. No one in the whole world was injured or died from the heat. And thank God.”
He also said that Lokomotiv defender Evgeniy Morozov, who was injured, had to be substituted in the 34th minute: “Morozov felt tension in the back muscle and asked for a replacement.”
The Vietnamese team is far from the best. This was clear to everyone, including Karpin. And yet he praised his opponent: “Comparing Vietnam’s level with what? Europe? Well, yes, you don’t have to kid yourself. They are not the strongest team at European level. We don’t know much about their football. But from what I saw, the team is not bad, the players are technically prepared, but perhaps there is a lack of equipment somewhere.”
Overall, the coach is satisfied with his team’s performance: “Are you satisfied with the quality of the Russian team’s play? It depends on what you mean by that. In these conditions, of course, I’m happy with the humidity. We won 3:0, we didn’t concede anything at our own goal and we could have scored more. If we were playing in a different climate, probably not.” The Vietnamese scored their second own goal: the defender passed the ball to the goalkeeper, but he missed. According to Karpin, this episode has not yet decided the result: “I don’t consider this moment to be crucial. It was rather our first goal. This is not a goalkeeper’s mistake, but a carelessness of the defender. What we saw can happen on this pitch. The ball jumped and went into the goal.”
Today Andrey Lunev and Evgeniy Latyshonok played in the middle. But Matvey Safonov also came to the Asian training camp for a reason: “Safonov will play in the next match,” Karpin said.
Vietnam – Russia – 0:3
Photo: rfs.ru
The RFU did not hide its satisfaction with the outcome of the match. The main thing is that it took place, albeit in unusual conditions.
“The match was great, the result was great, the weather did not interfere. The conditions are unusual for us. That is why, of course, we would like to play in more comfortable conditions for us, in the European competition,” said Maxim Mitrofanov.
How Russia defeated Vietnam:
Russia defeated Vietnam thanks to a ridiculous own goal. Karpin made 4 newcomers play at the same time!
The official was asked about the possible cancellation of the match with Thailand due to the heat. But he said that this would only happen in case of force majeure: “I don’t think the match with Thailand can be cancelled. But if a typhoon starts tomorrow and this happens, the team will go to the hotel on the 7th. By the time it is time to board the plane, according to the current schedule: you will arrive at the airport, board the plane and fly home. We are definitely leaving. The next step is Thailand’s match against Vietnam. Neither they nor we can play any more. We need to bring players back to the team.”
He also spoke about future rivals: “We are not looking at European teams in the autumn. Because everyone is playing and everyone is busy. In the autumn we are only looking at Asia. Are Malaysia and Turkmenistan among the contenders? No,” Mitrofanov said.
Vietnam – Russia – 0:3
Photo by: RIA Novosti
The heat was one of the key topics in the responses of the national team players. Goalkeeper Evgeniy Latyshonok calmly reacted to the climatic shock and said that he was recovering only with the help of water. However, he did not have to run around the field that much.
Defender Danil Krugovoy showed the brightest prospects. He said he had read about Vietnamese deaths from air pollution in 2020.
“It’s better after the cold water, but it was difficult. I actually didn’t know that there were no more substitutions to make. It was difficult to finish the last 20 minutes. Everything hurt and tightened. It was very difficult. Personally, I wouldn’t say that it was easier in the second half. It was such a strange state: I jerk and then it’s hard for me to run. My legs withered, by no means. The conditions here are good, just the weather is tense. In 2020, a lot of people died because of the air. I read about it. Today I was in such a state, it seemed like I would be with them,” said the footballer.
But it is too early for Krugovoi and the others to relax. In two days there is a match against Thailand. And the weather is unlikely to become milder during this time.
