The Russian national football team has announced a preliminary squad of 38 players in preparation for their upcoming friendly matches against Vietnam and Thailand in September 2024 at My Dinh Stadium. This announcement follows the Vietnam Football Federation’s (VFF) confirmation that Russia and Thailand will participate in the triangular tournament hosted by Vietnam.
Among the standout names in the Russian squad is Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) goalkeeper Matvei Safonov. The 25-year-old recently joined PSG during the summer transfer window and currently serves as the backup goalkeeper for the French club. Safonov has earned 14 caps for Russia, making him one of the most notable figures in this roster.
Other key players included in the preliminary list are Daler Kuzyayev (Le Havre), Daniil Fomin (Dinamo Moscow), Andrei Mostovoy (Zenit), and German Onugkha, a Nigerian-born forward who plays for Vejle Boldklub in Denmark.
Head coach Valeri Karpin has noted that some of Russia’s top stars, including Aleksandr Golovin, Arsen Zakharyan, and Aleksei Miranchuk, will not be making the trip to Vietnam. Golovin and Zakharyan are currently recovering from injuries, while Miranchuk has been allowed to remain with his club.
Coach Karpin is expected to finalize the official 28-man squad for the Vietnam trip in the last week of August, following the conclusion of the Russian Premier League and Russian Cup matches.
According to the schedule, Vietnam will face Russia on September 5, followed by a match against Thailand on September 10. The match between Thailand and Russia is set for September 7. These fixtures are part of the FIFA Days in September and serve as crucial preparation for all three teams as they gear up for their respective competitions later in the year.
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