‘90% sure we’d have won’ – Russia beach soccer goalie on his team’s chances at FIFA World Cup

Russia’s national team stood a very good chance of winning the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup tournament hosted this year by the UAE, the team’s own goalkeeper Denis Parkhomenko stated in an interview to RT. According to him, while the team is being suspended from international competitions it has to stay in shape and be ready to return. He also talked about his experience at the Games of the Future, confirmed that he is not coming back to Spartak in any way and shared his post-retirement plans.

– So how did you end up playing at the Games of the Future?

– I happen to know personally two guys playing for Phoenix, Roman Shishkin and Maxim Kazankov. I played with Kazankov on the Our Guys team in Media Football League, and we got on pretty well. I can’t say that we talk often, but I believe Maxim remembers me as a good guy and a good goalie, and so sometime last December he asked me if I wanted to try playing something new. And then Shishkin wrote to me, and I agreed right away. I even had to negotiate a special leave from my team, Saratov, with head coach Yuri Krasheninnikov, to be able to go to Kazan, because the team had a training camp session in St. Petersburg at that time, so my plans to try playing phygital soccer were a bit ill-timed.

– What was your first reaction to the idea?

– I actually heard about the Games of the Future last summer. Back then I didn’t pay much attention to that information, it sounded like some cool project was announced. I was happy to find out that Russia actually implemented this really cool large-scale project. And when I started to learn more, I got very pretty passionate about it. It turns out that the physical and digital parts are very different, because digital format allows you to create such a huge advantage that your opponent to would never be able to catch up on a physical sports ground, even if you are miracle worker, like an ultimate Ronaldo or something.

– I’m guessing beach soccer players find it less of a challenge to get used to a relatively small playing field, is that right?

– To some extent, yes. But it’s still very different. When you play on sand, you have to keep the ball in the air. You’re constantly making high passes, so the emphasis is on technique and physical prowess. In phygital football, the emphasis shifts to tactics, and leveraging the strengths of each player becomes crucial. The pitch is compact, and any section of it can be key to deciding the game.

– You’re known as one of the strongest-shooting goalkeepers in beach soccer. You capitalized on that at the Games of the Future and bagged two goals. Was that a strategy?

– It was more situational. For instance, during the quarter-finals against R10 Team, my opponents allowed me to advance nearly to midfield. Within seconds, I sent a low shot into the far corner. It was simply a shot of fortune, and not even that forceful. The Brazilian goalkeeper might have turned it around with a bit more finesse. When I played against China’s GZ.QIUXIN, Shishkin rolled a pass to me, and I netted the ball with the outside of my foot. I also missed a great chance against R10 – I almost scored an own goal like Cristiano Ronaldo. The ball seemed to be rolling into the goal, but it hit the post. The team appreciated my effort though.

– What is it like to play alongside Shishkin? He’s played for the top Russian teams and the national team.

– That’s worth a separate mention. On the one hand, you’ve got all these top-tier guys on the team. Some of them rose to fame as athletes, others as gamers. But none of them turned up their noses. Everyone was incredibly supportive and cooperative. They put their body on the line for the team and shielded their teammates, without regard for medals and titles. That commands respect. They might be at the height of their careers, but they’re still earnest about the game.

– After the third stage of the Russian Beach Soccer Championship, you unexpectedly transferred from Spartak to Saratov. What prompted that decision?

– I really don’t want to get back to all the outcry that rose around that story. Let it all stay behind the curtains. We just had different views and opinions, that’s all. I guess Spartak is better off without me, and I am better off without Spartak. At the same time, I highly value Moscow fans and love them very much, for they were there for me during my troubles with my transfer to Saratov. That was a very troublesome period that lasted a month. Big thanks to every one of my fans! I’d also like to thank the management of me new team for the warm welcome.

– So you had an argument with the leaders of the Red-and-Whites?

– Yes, let’s put it that way. With the top brass.

– Was there no way to sort things out?

– There was, but I’d developed my own perspective of the situation and a certain attitude, so I didn’t want to back down. Everyone has to take responsibility for their words.

– Did they try to make you stay in Spartak?

– Yes, they tried to pull some strings. Again, I don’t want to go back to that. I respect the team’s management, as well as every player and the coaches. We had an amazing journey together, both in the pitch and beyond. Spartak has developed into a tightly-knit team, where everyone was totally out there for each other. Now our ways have parted, though, and my new team is Saratov.

– You managed to snatch bronze in the Russian championship. Is this Saratov’s peak for the moment?

– Definitely not. Before the season, the team was aiming for the ultimate goals -winning the championship and the Russian Cup. In the semifinals, we had a crazy face-off with Lokomotiv, with 11 goals scored in total. That was a proper drama! Alas, luck was on Lokomotiv’s side that day. The good thing was that, despite the loss, we got our act together for the bronze match and defeated Leks. For Saratov, a young team with serious title ambitions, it’s an important step. Our performance in the Russian championship deserves a B-, I think.

– In the match for the bronze medal of the Russian Cup, Saratov lost to Spartak in a penalty shootout. How did you feel playing against your former squad?

– For me, this defeat was doubly insulting. Of course, my feelings were extremely unusual. It seemed like I had quite recently defended Spartak’s red and white colors, and now I was opposing them. But life has taught me to always control my emotions and keep my cool. And, to be honest, I had no desire to prove anything to anyone. Though the wound was quite fresh, you have to first and foremost prove things to yourself. If you start blowing smoke at everyone around you, you risk burning out.

– Do you completely rule out returning to Spartak?

– At the moment, I am not considering returning in any capacity.

– You have won all possible trophies in beach soccer. What is your motivation for continuing, considering the suspension of the national team?

– The motivation is in solidarity. Despite all that’s happened, we are still obliged to play with maximum dedication. Moreover, no one has canceled club tournaments. And at the international level, they are still trying to organize competitions with the participation of national teams from countries that still have good relations with Russia. In this situation, it is just important to prove to everyone: we haven’t broken, and we’re ready to return at any moment.

– How can a professional athlete keep from slacking off?

– The main efforts need to be invested in developing the sport within the country and raising it to a new level of recognition. In big-time football, the situation is completely different. The guys there are well-publicized, but few people know beach soccer players, even famous ones. Sometimes you tell people about our kind of sport, and they say, “Oh, I know! I’ve watched beach volleyball.” After that, you just want to grab your head. Fans should know standout players like Mikhail Likhachev, Andrey Bukhlitsky, Egor Yeremeev, Anton Shkarin, Alexey Makarov, and others. Okay, I was a world champion once, but people at this level who have achieved tremendous success deserve more attention and respect.

– Is there more free time without international tournaments?

– I can’t say so. Some competitions have disappeared, but others have taken their place. These are domestic and amateur matches. Several international championships will also be held in 2024. The season promises to be eventful. Plus, when you are constantly practicing at training camps, there are practically no pauses. The life of a professional beach soccer player has not changed much with the imposition of sanctions. Well, I repeat, everyone is eager to maintain a high level of play in order to be in good shape for the return.

– Have domestic teams gotten weaker? Have any strong players left following the example of some classic footballers?

– On the contrary, they’ve gotten better. The domestic national league definitely remains one of the strongest on the planet.

– The Russian national team won the Nations Cup in the summer of 2023, and then took bronze at the CIS Games in Belarus. Is this a worthy replacement for the World Cup?

– Partly yes, because all the teams that subsequently participated in the 2024 World Cup came to the Nations Cup – Senegal, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. And the latter took third place at the World Cup. Therefore, the level was very high. The story is similar with the games of the CIS countries. And the organization is analogous.

– Did you follow the World Cup itself? Did you ever think, “We could have been there!”

– My feelings were really twofold, because many of my friends went to the UAE to play for different countries. But, of course, I also wanted to take part in the tournament myself. More than once, I caught myself thinking: the Russian national team had the strength to take the gold for the second time in a row and defend its title. And I can tell you, I’m 90% sure we would have won.

– Were you surprised by Belarus’ excellent performance?

– I watched absolutely all of our neighbor’s matches and was very worried for them because I get along well with almost everyone on their team. I was as anxious as I would have been going out to play myself, I spent a lot of nerves. When they took out Portugal in the quarterfinals, I felt incredible emotions. And Brishtel with his 4 goals was just fantastic!

By the way, we’ve known him for a long time too. I remember when I first came to beach soccer and we played for Delta together. I made soups for him.

– Did you call Igor after the World Cup meetings?

– No. As an active athlete, I know that guys don’t like to be bugged in the middle of big tournaments. The flow of information is already large. And it’s strange to write to a person at a time of great success and ask, ‘Where were you before?’

– In our previous interview, you talked about serious footvolley training. Are you still doing it?

– To a lesser extent. There simply isn’t enough time. We have to focus on preparing for beach soccer competitions. In winter, you need to keep in shape. Although footvolley helps athletes lay an excellent foundation, not only technically, but also physically. You can really ‘die’ out there in an hour of training. This sport is simply stunning!

– Is it developing in Russia?

– The process has stalled. And this is, again, due to the political situation. Russia has been suspended from international competitions in footvolley too. We used to have the opportunity to go to European tournaments, but now we are stewing in our own juices. We are going to gather a company of people devoted to this discipline.

– You told me how you once ran a marathon at home, in the Krasnodar Region. Have you repeated this since?

– I haven’t had a chance, but I’ve mastered the half marathon on the track in the gym. However, I haven’t abandon this idea. In general, my dream is to walk the largest hiking trail in the world, the so-called ‘Great Trail’ with a length of more than 24,000 kilometers. It takes more than a year to traverse the whole thing. After wrapping up my career, I’ll definitely complete it.

– Have you taken an interest in any other sports?

– Billiards, perhaps. Of course, we’re talking about the Russian kind, not regular pool or the American type. We meet with a friend and play. Straight shots, bank shots... You get great pleasure from what’s happening. It’s amazing how clearly you can apply geometric calculations in your head on the cloth. Sometimes a friend makes such incredible shots that I’m happy for him, although I don’t like to give in. Who knows, maybe I’ll take part in tournaments in the future. First, you need to purchase your own cue. How much does one cost? It depends on the quality and type of wood. On average, the most ordinary one will run you 15,000 - 20,000 rubles.