Russia's Reasoning Behind Their Defeat Against Saudi Arabia Revealed
In a disappointing turn of events, the Russian youth national team suffered a 2:1 defeat against the Saudi Arabian youth national team on September 5, in a match held in Khimki, Russia. The loss was a setback for the team, with Maxim Shnaptsev, a defender for the Russian youth team, expressing his confidence in winning the match beforehand.
Following the match, Shnaptsev attributed the loss to a lack of mutual understanding and insufficient time to gel. He also stated that the Saudi Arabian team came out provoking the Russian team, but did not see any football-like play from their opponents.
Unfortunately, this loss comes at a time when the Russian football scene is facing significant challenges. In February 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended the Russian national team and Russian clubs from participating in tournaments under their jurisdiction. As a result, the men's Russian national team was unable to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, and Russian footballers did not participate in Euro 2024.
The suspension has far-reaching consequences, extending to future tournaments as well. The Russian U20 national team cannot participate in the 2023 U20 European Championship qualification due to the suspensions. Similarly, the men's national team's suspension prevented them from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
The suspensions also affect the participation of Russian clubs in major European tournaments. Currently, Russian clubs are unable to participate in the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League.
Despite these challenges, Shnaptsev remains confident in the future of Russian football. He expressed his belief that the team will bounce back and continue to strive for success in the face of adversity.
