Soviet Union national football team
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The Soviet Union national football team represented the Soviet Union in international football competitions. It was a member of FIFA (the international football association) and UEFA (the European football association). Its players were drawn from the various republics of the Soviet Union, notably from Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the national team was disbanded. In 1992, a team called the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) participated in the European Championship, after which individual national teams were created for each republic. FIFA counts the Soviet Union's historical record under the Russian national team.
Early history and competition entry
The team began official play in the 1920s, but did not participate in FIFA competitions for a long time. Regular participation began in the 1950s, when the Soviet Union joined FIFA. It made its first World Cup appearance in 1958, and returned to subsequent tournaments.
1960 European Championship
The Soviet Union won the first European Nations Cup, held in 1960. In the final, it defeated Yugoslavia. The team was managed at that time by Gavriil Kachalin. The team also finished second in that championship three times—in 1964, 1972, and 1988—making it one of the teams with the most runner-up finishes in European championship history.
World Cup and Olympics
The team's best World Cup result was fourth place in 1966 in England. In other tournaments it generally reached the quarterfinals or earlier rounds. In the Olympics, the team won gold medals in 1956 in Melbourne and in 1988 in Seoul, as Olympic football teams of that era consisted of elite players from the senior squad.
Notable players
Goalkeeper Lev Yashin was the most celebrated player. He was the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or award, which he received in 1963. Forward Oleg Blokhin won the award in 1975, and Igor Belanov won it in 1986. Coach Valeriy Lobanovskyi, formerly of Dynamo Kyiv, managed the team at various periods, including the 1988 European Championship final.
Politics and sport
The team's selection and participation in competitions were sometimes affected by political decisions. For example, at certain times the Soviet Union refused to travel to countries with which it had strong political tensions, resulting in withdrawals or disqualifications from tournaments. These instances show how state authorities influenced the team's schedule.