"If Brunei had scored us, the story would have been comical."

The Russian national soccer team ended the year 2024 with two resounding victories. On November 15, it scored the biggest victory in its history - an 11-0 win over Brunei in Krasnodar. Four days later, it defeated Syria 4-0 in Volgograd. Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Andrei Mostovoi played both games for the national team.

With Brunei he played the whole match, scoring one goal. With Syria he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute. In an interview with Izvestia, Mostovoi commented on the criticism of the Russian Football Union (RFU) for the fact that the national team played with one of the weakest opponents in Brunei, assessed the moment when the team almost scored against Russia, and also explained why such matches should still be held.

- How do you evaluate the game of the Russian national team and yourself in the match against Syria?

- It was a good game performed by the team. Personally, I was probably not very noticeable, because I came on as a substitute only for the last 15 minutes, which were not the best for our team, if you compare with the rest of the match. But everything worked out fine for us. The main thing is that the whole training camp was without injuries. Everyone did well.

- Many people expected that, unlike Brunei, Syria would resist, but in the end you defeated it 4:0 and could score much more goals.

- Maybe we are just so strong (smiles).

- How did you adjust to Syria after the 11-0 win over Brunei? Weren't there any relaxation after the game with a team that had little to oppose you?

- After all, we changed the whole team: 11 new players were in the starting lineup against Syria compared to the match with Brunei. Everyone understood that against Brunei there will be one lineup, against Syria - another. Each player tuned for his match.

- You just played the match with Brunei in full. How do you like the opponent? Can you single out anyone in his lineup?

- Frankly speaking, probably not. In principle, they all look alike - short in stature, like most Asians. But that's not even the point: you could just see what their level was. I think everything is clear here.

- Were there weaker opponents in your career? For example, in friendlies at Zenit training camp.

- Probably, Brunei are weaker, but it seems so in the aftermath. Maybe, if you think back longer, someone was even weaker at Zenit's training camp. Or at least plus or minus the same as Brunei, similar in level.

- Did you feel sorry for your goalkeepers Ilya Lantratov and Stanislav Agkatsev, who almost did not play in the match against Brunei?

- I felt more sorry for the Brunei goalkeeper. What to feel sorry for ours? They were out of work (smiles).

- Except that Agkatsev had an episode when a Brunei player hit him by the scruff of the neck from the center of the field, and Stanislav not without difficulty kicked the ball to the corner.

- Yes, I was very nervous at that moment. But in general, it was very funny at that moment, when I see that the ball flies into the goal over Stas' head. I thought: "Man, if it goes in now, it will be fun".

- Would it have been a shame if Brunei had scored at least one goal like that?

- Not embarrassing, but embarrassing for sure. I would have laughed, of course (smiles). Although Stas would be a pity. After all, his first game for the national team. But the story would be comical.

- All autumn, when the match with Pakistan was disrupted, or it turned out that Brunei would not bring the main squad, many criticized the RFU for organizing matches with such weak opponents. Are you still in favor of agreeing to any variant of the game with national teams, even such weak ones? Or to look for other formats - for example, matches with teams from the Medialiga?

- Well, the match with Brunei... Of course, you want to play with stronger opponents. But still, Brunei is better than nothing. I already answered about Medialiga. In my opinion, the national team should not play with Medialiga.

- So you should cling on to any opportunity to play a national team, even if it's Brunei level?

- Better than nothing at all. Of course, the national team still needs to gather. And for the fans it is necessary. We need to gather for people - to show that the national team is still there. And I think it's still nice for every player to come to the national team knowing that you are among the best.