
PSG’s goalkeeper, Matvei Safonov, expressed his disappointment after not playing in any of Russia’s friendly matches during their September 2024 tour in Vietnam. The Russian national team had planned two friendly matches in September, one against Vietnam and the other against Thailand, but unforeseen circumstances altered those plans.
Russia secured a 3-0 victory over Vietnam in their first scheduled match. However, their second friendly against Thailand was canceled due to the effects of Typhoon No. 3. Today, the Russian national team returned home without completing their second fixture.
According to the initial plan, coach Valeri Karpin intended to give all of the traveling Russian players a chance to play during the trip. This included the 11 players who did not feature in the match against Vietnam. These players, including Safonov, were set to make their appearance in the now-canceled game against Thailand. Unfortunately, with the cancellation, these players missed their only chance to take the field during the September international window.
Matvei Safonov, a highly anticipated player on this tour, had been the subject of much discussion before Russia’s arrival in Vietnam. As a standout goalkeeper currently under contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), many expected Safonov to play a key role in the friendlies.
Speaking on the official Russian Football Federation channel, the 25-year-old goalkeeper shared his frustration: “This isn’t the first time one of our matches has been canceled. Of course, I wanted to play. No one enjoys traveling tens of thousands of kilometers only to be sidelined. But unfortunately, the weather is something we can’t control or change. The most important thing now is that we are able to return on schedule.”
The Russian Football Federation also announced that the national team’s flight landed safely in Moscow at 2:25 PM on September 8. Safonov, meanwhile, will take another flight from Moscow back to France to rejoin PSG ahead of their next club commitments.
While the friendly matches were meant to help Russia build momentum and allow players like Safonov to gain international experience, the typhoon ultimately disrupted these plans. As a result, the Russian squad leaves Southeast Asia with only one match played, while Safonov and his fellow unused players will have to wait for their next opportunity to represent their country on the field.
Safonov’s return to PSG will now be closely watched, as the goalkeeper continues to compete for playing time at one of Europe’s top clubs. Despite the disappointment, the goalkeeper remains focused on his professional duties and the challenges ahead in the domestic and international football season.
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