Ex-Coach Romashchenko: Our Aim Was to Compete for Victory in the Championship

The former coach of the Russian national team, Miroslav Romashchenko, discussed the objectives set for the national squad during the home World Cup in 2018. Today, July 1, marks seven years since Russia’s historic victory over Spain in the Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup.

«We began preparing for the World Cup long before it started, through the Confederations Cup and friendly matches against strong teams. We understood the challenges ahead. Our goal wasn’t just to advance from the group stage but to compete for the title. All our efforts were focused on this. I believe our coaching staff did an incredible job as well. In selecting players, we analyzed a vast array of factors and recognized the significant importance of the mental aspect. Everything was considered, combined, and tested. I think we made the right choices in virtually all decisions, of course, with the players’ contributions,» Romashchenko stated in an interview with Championship correspondent Vladimir Chetverikov.