On 7 September, RPL players took part in qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup and the 2023 European Under-21 Championships.

2022 World Cup qualifiers

Europe

Group D

Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-2 Kazakhstan

Rostov defender Dennis Hadzikadunic spent 68 minutes on the pitch for Bosnia and was booked for the second time in qualifiers, meaning he will miss the next group match. Akhmat defender Marat Bystrov played the full match for the visitors.

CSKA midfielder Baktiyor Zaynutdinov came on in the 57th minute, was also shown a yellow card and saved the guests from defeat in the fifth added minute from a free kick - his eighth goal in 18 games for the national team. Kazakhstan’s first goal was scored by the ex-Orenburg and Khimki midfielder Islambek Kuat.

After matchday six, the two sides occupy fourth and fifth places in the group respectively on three points. On 9 October, they will meet in Nur-Sultan, and on 12 October Kazakhstan will take on Finland and Ukraine host Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group G

Montenegro 0-0 Latvia

Rubin midfielder Sead Khakshabanovich started for the hosts and was replaced in the 79th minute. Montenegro have eight points after six matches and are in fourth place, five points behind the top two of the Netherlands and Norway. In October, Montenegro will play away against Gibraltar on 8 October and Norway on 11 October.

Group H

Croatia 3-0 Slovenia

Zenit defender Dejan Lovren played 77 minutes in Split for Croatia, while CSKA midfielder Jaka Bijol played the entire match for Slovenia and received a yellow card. Croatia earned their win thanks to goals from three former RPL players: Marko Livaya (Rubin 2014/15), Mario Pasalic (Spartak on loan 2017/18) and Nikola Vlasic (CSKA 2018 to 2021). Rubin defender Filip Uremovic and Dynamo midfielder Nikola Moro remained on the bench for the hosts.

Zlatko Dalic's team are level with Russia on 13 points, but ahead on goal difference (+7 to +6). On 8 October, Croatia will meet Cyprus, and on 11 October they will host Slovakia in Osijek.

Asia, Round 3

Group A

South Korea 1-0 Lebanon

Rubin midfielder Hwang In-beom picked up his 25th cap for South Korea. Against Lebanon, he played 89 minutes. South Korea have four points after two matchdays, having previously drawn 0-0 with Iraq and top the group. In October, Paulo Bento’s side will play World Cup qualifiers at home to Syria on 7 October and away to Iran on 12 October.

Iraq 0-3 Iran

Iraq started with Krylia Sovetov Samara midfielder Safaa Hadi, while Zenit striker Sardar Azmoun featured for Iran. Hadi played 79 minutes, and Azmoun assisted the second goal before going off in added time. After two matchdays, Iran lead the group with six points, while Iraq are last with just one.

In the October qualifiers, Iraq will play Lebanon and the UAE, and Iran will play against the UAE and South Korea. The matches are scheduled for 7 and 12 October. The top two teams from both groups will go directly to the 2022 World Cup finals, and the third-placed teams will play off for the right to participate in the intercontinental play-offs.

Africa, Round 2

Group A

Burkina Faso 1-1 Algeria

Krylia Sovetov defender Mehdi Zeffane played the whole game for the visitors, and Akhmat striker Mohamed Konate came on as a substitute for the hosts in the 81st minute. The teams have four points each after the opening two matchdays, but Algeria are first thanks to the better goal difference (9-1 vs 3-1).

On 9 and 12 October, Burkina Faso will play two matches against Djibouti, and Algeria will play Niger twice.

Group B

Zambia 0-2 Tunisia

Rubin defender Montassar Talbi came on in the 89th minute to win his fifth cap for Tunisia when the visitors scored their second goal. Tunisia lead the group outright with six points. They will have two qualifiers against Mauritania on 9 and 12 October.

Group C

Cape Verde 1-2 Nigeria

CSKA midfielder Chidera Ejuke made his third start for Nigeria, and was replaced in the 84th minute. Nigeria won their second game in a row to become sole leaders of the group with six points. On 9 and 12 October, they will play against the Central African Republic.

Group F

Angola 0-1 Libya

Rostov defender Bastos played the full match, but couldn’t prevent his team suffering a second 1-0 defeat in a row. On the previous matchday, Angola lost away to Egypt, and now they prop up the group table. Their next opponents on 9 and 12 October are Gabon, who have one point.

In the second round of the 2022 World Cup African qualifiers, 40 teams are divided into 10 groups of four. Group winners advance to the next stage, where participants will be divided into five pairs, the winners of which will qualify for the World Cup finals.

2023 European Under-21 Championships qualifiers

Group F

Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 1-1 Sweden U21

Rostov midfielder Armin Gigovic played 69 minutes against Bosnia. Having scored seven points in three games, Sweden lead the group. Their next opponents in the Euro 2023 qualifiers are Montenegro on 8 October in Helsingborg and Italy on 12 October in Monza.

Photo: Denis Tyrin / CSKA