The head coach of the Russian national football team, Valery Karpin, at the post-match conference, said that his players did not succeed. Today, November 14, in the qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup, the Russians lost to the Croats and lost the opportunity to get to the World Cup directly. Mr. Karpin said that the players failed to play with the ball.
“The most important thing that didn’t work out was counterplay, I mean not on counterattacks, but playing with the ball,” the head coach answered when asked what the Russian team didn’t manage. According to Valery Karpin, many players had no desire to receive the ball.
“It is impossible to defend for 90 minutes without the ball, no strength will be enough,” the coach said. “Something can still fly when you spend 80 minutes out of 90 in your penalty area,” explained Mr. Karpin. He also noted that the Croats were not allowed to play the attack.
Now Russia will take part in the play-offs. This time they will be held in a new format. In addition to the ten runners-up teams, the top two teams from Division B of the League of Nations will take part in them. The teams will be divided into six pairs that will play one match each. Then the winners will play in the match. As a result, three teams will get to the World Championship in Qatar.
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