"FIFA benefits from having Messi in the World Cup finals, but they didn't take him there on purpose"

The legend of the Russian national team and Zenit St. Petersburg was in the USA for a month and covered the main events of the World Cup. In a big conversation with Izvestia and Sport-Express, Arshavin shared his impressions of the tournament, named the best player of the World Cup and talked about meetings with celebrities.

— Many people hoped to see a repeat of the 2022 final, the match between France and Argentina. What kind of ending did you want to see?

— I wanted France– England. Because France, in my opinion, was the strongest team in the tournament. And I thought England would beat Argentina in the semi-finals. But it didn't happen.

— England was heavily criticized for sitting in front of their own goal after scoring, especially in the last 20 minutes.

"I didn't understand that." When you start playing on your own penalty line in 20 minutes, and Kane is in range, sooner or later you'll miss. The same thing happened in the Egypt–Argentina match, when the African national team led 2-0, and in the end they went on the defensive and rebuilt into six defenders. England is to blame, and football has punished it. And Messi punished them too.

— Bellingham didn't open up a new side for you?

— It seems to me that before the injury, when he played for Borussia, he was even brighter. There is no stability right now. If he had been okay, he should have shown himself against Argentina, but that didn't happen.

— England retained Tuchel, and it seems that a new team is being built. Maybe the Euro will finally achieve a result?

— That's what we always say about England. They have a good generation, and it was evident in the last Euro. But the result is only the third place. Although they have achieved this for the first time in many decades. The only question is what will happen to the team if Kane leaves. I don't know who can replace him. Maybe Ollie Watkins? Although he's not a striker of Kane's caliber. But otherwise, the national team is very strong, young and promising. The potential is huge, that's why they were in the semifinals.

— What is your overall impression of Argentina?

— I actually thought it would be a failure, because Messi is no longer the same. But they performed well. Messi, of course, is a great figure. The best player in history. It didn't work out in the final, but it's more to the credit of a strong Spain than a weak Argentina.

— Many people think that only Messi was in Argentina, and without him they would not have been out of the group. Do you agree?

— You can't say that, there are Martinez, Alvarez, De Paul — they are all world champions. It's just that the game is focused on Messi. I saw the match with Algeria live, the guys are in an advantageous position, but they still turn towards Messi and give it to him. He's already doing magic. But are Enzo Fernandez and Leandro Paredes really bad players? Of course not. When you have Messi, the best violin, it's stupid not to play it.

— Do you agree that Rhodri was recognized as the best player of the tournament?

— For me, Messi was supposed to be the best player. Rodri acted great and meant a lot to Spain. But the way Messi conducted the tournament... Of course, he's the best for me.

— Have you heard about the conspiracy theory that Argentina was "dragged" to the final — the cards were canceled, the opponents' offsides were not counted?

— I think FIFA benefits from having Messi and Argentina in the final, that's obvious. But for someone to do something on purpose, I didn't have that opinion.

— Did France disappoint you? We saw Oliset, Mbappe — bright counterattacks, but we did not reach the final.

— On the contrary, they charmed me during the tournament. There are a lot of great players on the same team, and how they all act together. But Spain just ate them like a rabbit boa constrictor and didn't choke. Overall, I liked France.

— There was a feeling that Spain is a team without a bright character. Isn't it boring for you?

— It's a little boring, I want brightness. But you can't say that they played sour. They demonstrated the highest skill, good ball possession, and performed many useful actions ahead. But they have this style.

— Is Yamal an opening or a disappointment at this championship?

— He certainly didn't disappoint me. It seems that he was not fully physically ready and could not show all his best qualities. He beat me in some places and created danger, but the demands on him were too high.

— The main disappointment of the tournament?

— Honestly, there was no one who disappointed. Probably the Tunisian national team. It feels like people gathered at the airport, accidentally got tickets, and tried to play soccer at the World Cup.

Is this the best match you've ever seen live?

— England – Argentina. Both in terms of the game and emotions.

— You've seen the finals, the semifinals, the halftime show. If you look at it from a spectator's perspective, how do you like the organization of the finale?

— We went to the matches like ordinary people. The exception was that we had parking lots next to the stadium. Otherwise, everything is fine: fast passages, clear navigation. Tickets could be found. But the price didn't match what the viewer was getting. But as much as the fan liked it, everything is great.

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— At the final, you said that everything was great, but it was better in Russia. Why?

— I assumed it was better. Because in our cities where the World Cup was held, everything was for the fans. People from different countries walked along the streets, free activities, entrances, passageways. And in America, everything was commercialized, there were practically no concessions. Everything was happening as usual.

— There were a lot of events at the World Cup. What was the highlight of this tournament for you that you had never seen before?

— I can hardly be surprised by anything — I've already seen a lot. Probably the outdoor hot dog stand we set up on Fifth Avenue... Or rather, not us, but our partners. That, I think, was the most striking episode.

— Have you had time to feel the work in catering — this heat?

— Actually, my mother worked in catering, and since childhood I have been in the kitchen and behind the bar counters. So I'm familiar with it inside and out. And I like cooking in general.

— You have met with many famous people, had a few words with Cesc Fabregas. And what's left behind the scenes? Did you have time to discuss something important?

— We talked for five or seven minutes, no more. Of course, not everything was shown in the report. I told him that I had recently met Sasha Gleb at the Russian Cup final. And then we discussed that Cesc would become the next coach of Barcelona. I gave it to him.

— How did he react?

— I answered positively, as it should be. Of course, he won't say, "Yes, I'm definitely going to coach Barcelona." But I think he's ready for it.

— And the meeting with Capello? We remember that you and he didn't have the most positive relationship.

— I didn't have much time to develop a relationship with him when Fabio worked for the Russian national team. He was sitting with his friend or colleague, and I came over and said hello. And that's it, then I sat down at the next table.

— You said that he didn't even recognize you.

— It was obvious from his eyes when I approached, they were a little "swam". But I identified myself. I'm kidding. It's just that a lot of people want to say hello to Capello, especially in all this leapfrog during the game. The hotel was full of FIFA people there, so he probably wasn't paying attention anymore.

— This is your fifth or sixth trip to the USA. Did something else surprise you? Or is everything already at home?

— America is different. If only we had made it to the canyon last time... We were in the cities now. Cities are like cities. But nature and unusual places are more memorable.

— You like it when mistakes are pointed out in the comments. But underneath your travel videos, there's peace and positivity.

— That's why Nikita Filatov and I (former hockey player) We get upset. There is no reason to answer. No, there was a little bit of criticism, they just poured shit without texture. It's not even interesting to answer that.

"It's not important for Dzyube to play only with his head — he's a technical football player"

Goalkeeper of the Rodina football club Sergey Volkov — about his star partner at Akron, the upcoming debut of his team in the RPL and the success of the 40-year-old goalkeeper of Cape Verde at the World Cup

— There was a feeling that the audience was sad: the World Cup was ending and you were leaving.

"I wasn't sad. I understand that people may be sad, because it was a long time and, I think, high-quality for the viewer. But whenever I arrive in America, I always want to return home to Russia. No matter how pathetic it may sound, but it's honest. And when I come to any other place, I also want to return home.

— You also participated in a football challenge with Alexander Ovechkin. Is he okay?

— Last year we recorded a mini-series where he changed his profession. That's when I found out that he's left-footed, and he's got a good kick. He has a football concept. But here he just didn't play football, only challenges. That's why he won somewhere, and I won somewhere.

— Ovechkin has been given the image of a simple Russian peasant. Does this match reality?

— It seems to me that in his case it is. It's just that advertisers use this image.

— Did you manage to follow our football?

— It's difficult, after all, the poles are different. But I saw the Super Bowl result.

— Spartak tried to get a replay of the match with Zenit...

— I think it was impossible.