USSR national football team
Encyclopedia
The Soviet Union National Football Team (Russian: Сборная Советского Союза по футболу, tr. Sbornaya Sovyetskogo Soyuza po futbolu) was the national football team of the Soviet Union
. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union
. FIFA considers the CIS national football team
(and ultimately, the Russia national football team
) as its successor team allocating its former records to them; nevertheless, a large percentage of the team's former players came from outside the Russian SFSR
, mainly from the Ukrainian SSR, and following the breakup of the Soviet Union, some such as Andrei Kanchelskis
from the former Ukrainian SSR continued to serve in the new Russia national football team.
The Soviet Union failed to qualify for the World Cup
only twice, in 1974 and 1978, and attended seven finals tournaments in total. Their best finish was fourth in 1966
, when they lost to West Germany
in the semifinals, 2–1. The USSR qualified for five European Championships
, winning the inaugural competition in 1960 when they beat Yugoslavia
in the final, 2–1. They finished second three times (1964, 1972, 1988), and fourth once (1968), when, having drawn with Italy
in the semi-final, they were sent to the third place playoff match by the loss of a coin toss
. The Soviet Union also won the gold medal in the 1956
and 1988 Summer Olympics
, the inaugural World Youth Championship
in 1977, and the Under-17 World Championship
in 1987.
team beat Sweden
2–1 in Stockholm
. The first formally recognised match played by the Soviet Union took place a year later, a 3–0 win over Turkey
. This and a return match in Ankara
were the only officially recognised international matches played by the USSR prior to the 1952 Summer Olympics
, though several unofficial friendlies against Turkey took place in the 1930s. The 1952 Olympics was the first competitive tournament entered by the USSR. In the preliminary round, Bulgaria
were defeated 2–1, earning a first round tie against Yugoslavia
. Yugoslavia led 5–1, but a Soviet comeback in the last 15 minutes resulted in a 5–5 draw. The match was replayed, Yugoslavia winning 3–1.
for the first time at the 1958 tournament
, following a qualification playoff against Poland
. Drawn in a group with Brazil, England and Austria, they collected three points in total, one from England and two from Austria. USSR and England went to a playoff game, in which Anatoli Ilyin
scored in the 67th minute to knock England out. The USSR were then eliminated by the hosts of the tournament, Sweden, in the quarter-finals.
The inaugural European Championships
in 1960 marked the pinnacle of Soviet footballing achievement. Easily progressing to the quarter-finals, the team were scheduled to face Spain
, but due to the tensions of the Cold War
, Spain refused to travel to the Soviet Union, resulting in a walkover
. In the semi-final, the Soviet team defeated Czechoslovakia 3–0 and reached the final, where they faced Yugoslavia.
In the final, Yugoslavia scored first, but the Soviet Union, led by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin
, equalized in the 49th minute. After 90 minutes the score was 1–1, and Viktor Ponedelnik
scored with seven minutes left in extra time to give the Soviets the inaugural European Championship.
, the Soviet team was in Group 1 with Yugoslavia, Colombia and Uruguay
. The match between USSR and Colombia ended 4–4; Colombia scored a series of goals (68’, 72’, 86’). Star goalkeeper Lev Yashin was in poor form both against Colombia and Chile. His form was considered as one of the main reasons why USSR team did not gain more success in the tournament.
In 1964, the USSR attempted to defend their European Championship title, defeating Italy in the last 16 (2–0, 1–1) and to reach the quarter-finals. After two matches against Sweden, the Soviet side won on aggregate (1–1, 3–1). The USSR team went to Spain where the finals were held. In the semi-finals, the Soviet Union defeated Denmark 3–0 in Barcelona
but their dreams of winning the title again were dashed when they lost the final against Spain, the hosts.
, Italy
and Chile
. In all three matches, the USSR team managed to defeat their rivals. The Soviet team then defeated Hungary in the quarter-finals thanks to the effective performance of their star, Lev Yashin but their success was ended by two defeats on 25 and 28 July, against West Germany in the semi-finals and Portugal in the third place play off match, respectively. The 1966 squad was the second best scoring Soviet team in the World Cup history, with 10 goals.
For the Euro 1968, the qualification competition was played in two stages; a group stage (taking place from 1966 until 1968) and the quarter-finals (played in 1968). Again, only four teams could reach the finals which were held in Italy. The semi-final match between USSR and Italy ended 0–0. It was decided to toss a coin to see who reached the final, rather than play a replay. Italy won, and went on to become European champions. On 8 June 1968, the Soviets were defeated by England in the third place match.
started with the match between Mexico
and the USSR. The Soviet team became the first team to make a substitution in World Cup history in this match. Other opponents in their group were Belgium and El Salvador. The Soviet team easily qualified to the quarter-final where they lost against Uruguay in extra time. This was the last time the USSR reached the quarter-finals.
The final tournament of the 1972 European Championships took place between 14 June and 18 June 1972. Again, only four teams were in the finals. Soviets defeated Hungary 1–0, a second half goal. The final was between West Germany and USSR. The match ended with a victory of the German side thanks to the effective football of Gerd Müller
. This tournament was one of the two tournaments in which the USSR finished as runner-up.
as a result of refusal to play Chile
in the aftermath of the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, and failed to qualify for the 1978 World Cup
or the 1976 and 1980 European Championships.
was the USSR's first major tournament appearance for a decade. The USSR was in Group 6 with Brazil, Scotland and New Zealand. Goals by Socrates and Eder marked the defeat of the Soviet side against Brazil in the first group match(even thuough it was a very hard match for the Brazilians), and they were eventually eliminated in the Second Round by finishing the group in second place, when they defeated Belgium only 1–0 and drew against Poland with an 0–0 result. In 1984, the Soviets again failed to qualify for the European Championships, but succeeded in qualifying for the 1986 World Cup
. USSR were in Group C with Hungary, France and Canada.
The final major championship contested by the Soviet team was the 1990 FIFA World Cup
, where they were drawn in Group B with Argentina
, Romania
and Cameroon
. The only success of USSR in the whole tournament came when they managed to beat the group leaders, Cameroon by 4–0. The Soviet team lost their other matches and failed to qualify from the group. The USSR qualified for Euro 1992, but the breakup of the Soviet Union meant that the finals place was instead taken by the CIS national football team
. After the tournament, the former Soviet Republics competed as separate independent nations, with FIFA allocating the Soviet team's record to Russia
.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union
History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)
The history of the Soviet Union from 1982 through 1991, spans the period from Leonid Brezhnev's death and funeral until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Due to the years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development, economic growth stagnated...
. FIFA considers the CIS national football team
CIS national football team
The CIS national football team represented the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional confederation formed by 12 of the 15 newly formed sovereign states that emerged out of the break-up of the Soviet Union between 1990 and early 1992...
(and ultimately, the Russia national football team
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
) as its successor team allocating its former records to them; nevertheless, a large percentage of the team's former players came from outside the Russian SFSR
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
, mainly from the Ukrainian SSR, and following the breakup of the Soviet Union, some such as Andrei Kanchelskis
Andrei Kanchelskis
Andrei Antanasovich Kanchelskis is a Ukrainian-born Russian football manager and former association footballer who played as a right winger. Kanchelskis is the only player in history to have scored in each of the Glasgow, Merseyside and Manchester local derbies.Currently, he is managing FC...
from the former Ukrainian SSR continued to serve in the new Russia national football team.
The Soviet Union failed to qualify for the World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
only twice, in 1974 and 1978, and attended seven finals tournaments in total. Their best finish was fourth in 1966
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
, when they lost to West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in the semifinals, 2–1. The USSR qualified for five European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
, winning the inaugural competition in 1960 when they beat Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
in the final, 2–1. They finished second three times (1964, 1972, 1988), and fourth once (1968), when, having drawn with Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in the semi-final, they were sent to the third place playoff match by the loss of a coin toss
Coin flipping
Coin flipping or coin tossing or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties...
. The Soviet Union also won the gold medal in the 1956
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
and 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, the inaugural World Youth Championship
FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
in 1977, and the Under-17 World Championship
FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to the FIFA U-17 World Championship and known by its current name since 2007, is the world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by Fédération Internationale de Football...
in 1987.
First games
The first international match played by a Soviet team came in August 1923, nine months after the establishment of the Soviet Union, when a Russian SFSRRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
team beat Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
2–1 in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
. The first formally recognised match played by the Soviet Union took place a year later, a 3–0 win over Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
. This and a return match in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
were the only officially recognised international matches played by the USSR prior to the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
, though several unofficial friendlies against Turkey took place in the 1930s. The 1952 Olympics was the first competitive tournament entered by the USSR. In the preliminary round, Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
were defeated 2–1, earning a first round tie against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
. Yugoslavia led 5–1, but a Soviet comeback in the last 15 minutes resulted in a 5–5 draw. The match was replayed, Yugoslavia winning 3–1.
Sweden trials and the Triumph
The USSR entered the World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
for the first time at the 1958 tournament
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
, following a qualification playoff against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
. Drawn in a group with Brazil, England and Austria, they collected three points in total, one from England and two from Austria. USSR and England went to a playoff game, in which Anatoli Ilyin
Anatoli Ilyin
Anatoli Mikhaïlovitch Ilyin is a former Soviet Russian footballer.-Honours:* Olympic champion: 1956.* Soviet Top League winner: 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1962.* Soviet Top League runner-up: 1954, 1955.* Soviet Top League bronze: 1957, 1961....
scored in the 67th minute to knock England out. The USSR were then eliminated by the hosts of the tournament, Sweden, in the quarter-finals.
The inaugural European Championships
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
in 1960 marked the pinnacle of Soviet footballing achievement. Easily progressing to the quarter-finals, the team were scheduled to face Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, but due to the tensions of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, Spain refused to travel to the Soviet Union, resulting in a walkover
Walkover
In British English, a walkover or W.O. is the awarding of a victory to a contestant because there are no other contestants, or because the other contestants have been disqualified or have forfeited. The term can apply in sport, but can also apply to elections...
. In the semi-final, the Soviet team defeated Czechoslovakia 3–0 and reached the final, where they faced Yugoslavia.
In the final, Yugoslavia scored first, but the Soviet Union, led by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin
Lev Yashin
Lev Ivanovich Yashin nicknamed as "The Black Spider", was a Soviet-Russian football goalkeeper, considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game. He was known for his superior athleticism in goal, imposing stature, amazing reflex saves and inventing the idea of...
, equalized in the 49th minute. After 90 minutes the score was 1–1, and Viktor Ponedelnik
Viktor Ponedelnik
Viktor Vladimirovich Ponedelnik is a former Soviet football player, regarded as one of the best strikers in Soviet football history....
scored with seven minutes left in extra time to give the Soviets the inaugural European Championship.
The end of the Kachalin's dream-team
In the 1962 World Cup1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
, the Soviet team was in Group 1 with Yugoslavia, Colombia and Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
. The match between USSR and Colombia ended 4–4; Colombia scored a series of goals (68’, 72’, 86’). Star goalkeeper Lev Yashin was in poor form both against Colombia and Chile. His form was considered as one of the main reasons why USSR team did not gain more success in the tournament.
In 1964, the USSR attempted to defend their European Championship title, defeating Italy in the last 16 (2–0, 1–1) and to reach the quarter-finals. After two matches against Sweden, the Soviet side won on aggregate (1–1, 3–1). The USSR team went to Spain where the finals were held. In the semi-finals, the Soviet Union defeated Denmark 3–0 in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
but their dreams of winning the title again were dashed when they lost the final against Spain, the hosts.
The late 1960s: Semi-finals at World Cup and European Championships
The 1966 World Cup was the tournament which the USSR team reached their best result by finishing the cup as the fourth. USSR was in Group 4 with North KoreaKorea DPR national football team
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea national football team represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in international association football and is controlled by the DPR Korea Football Association, the governing body for football in North Korea.North Korea surprised with a...
, Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
and Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
. In all three matches, the USSR team managed to defeat their rivals. The Soviet team then defeated Hungary in the quarter-finals thanks to the effective performance of their star, Lev Yashin but their success was ended by two defeats on 25 and 28 July, against West Germany in the semi-finals and Portugal in the third place play off match, respectively. The 1966 squad was the second best scoring Soviet team in the World Cup history, with 10 goals.
For the Euro 1968, the qualification competition was played in two stages; a group stage (taking place from 1966 until 1968) and the quarter-finals (played in 1968). Again, only four teams could reach the finals which were held in Italy. The semi-final match between USSR and Italy ended 0–0. It was decided to toss a coin to see who reached the final, rather than play a replay. Italy won, and went on to become European champions. On 8 June 1968, the Soviets were defeated by England in the third place match.
Kachalin's second attempt
The 1970 World Cup1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
started with the match between Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
and the USSR. The Soviet team became the first team to make a substitution in World Cup history in this match. Other opponents in their group were Belgium and El Salvador. The Soviet team easily qualified to the quarter-final where they lost against Uruguay in extra time. This was the last time the USSR reached the quarter-finals.
The final tournament of the 1972 European Championships took place between 14 June and 18 June 1972. Again, only four teams were in the finals. Soviets defeated Hungary 1–0, a second half goal. The final was between West Germany and USSR. The match ended with a victory of the German side thanks to the effective football of Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller
Gerhard "Gerd" Müller is a former German football player and one of the most prolific goalscorers of all time.With national records of 68 goals in 62 international appearances, 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and the international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games, he was one of the...
. This tournament was one of the two tournaments in which the USSR finished as runner-up.
Failures in the 1970s
The rest of the 1970s were bleak for the Soviets, who were disqualified from the 1974 World Cup1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
as a result of refusal to play Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
in the aftermath of the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, and failed to qualify for the 1978 World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
or the 1976 and 1980 European Championships.
Beskov recovers the team
The 1982 World Cup1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
was the USSR's first major tournament appearance for a decade. The USSR was in Group 6 with Brazil, Scotland and New Zealand. Goals by Socrates and Eder marked the defeat of the Soviet side against Brazil in the first group match(even thuough it was a very hard match for the Brazilians), and they were eventually eliminated in the Second Round by finishing the group in second place, when they defeated Belgium only 1–0 and drew against Poland with an 0–0 result. In 1984, the Soviets again failed to qualify for the European Championships, but succeeded in qualifying for the 1986 World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. USSR were in Group C with Hungary, France and Canada.
Lobanovsky era
Soviet team enjoyed a successful group stage by scoring nine goals and finishing the group in the first place. It seemed like the Soviet side managed to forget their unsuccessful performance in 1982, but they lost to surprise package Belgium 3–4 in the round of 16 after extra time. Despite their poor performance in the cup, USSR team was the best scoring Soviet team in the World Cup history, with 12 goals. After failing to qualify for three consecutive times (1976, 1980, 1984), the Soviets managed to qualify for the 1988 competition, the last time the USSR national football team took part in the European Football Championship. The finals were held in West Germany. Eight teams were participating this time. USSR finished Group B as leaders above the Netherlands and reached the semi-finals. There, the Soviets defeated Italy 2–0. In the final between USSR and the Netherlands, rival of USSR from Group B, the Netherlands won the match with a clear score and became the European champions.The final major championship contested by the Soviet team was the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, where they were drawn in Group B with Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
and Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
. The only success of USSR in the whole tournament came when they managed to beat the group leaders, Cameroon by 4–0. The Soviet team lost their other matches and failed to qualify from the group. The USSR qualified for Euro 1992, but the breakup of the Soviet Union meant that the finals place was instead taken by the CIS national football team
CIS national football team
The CIS national football team represented the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional confederation formed by 12 of the 15 newly formed sovereign states that emerged out of the break-up of the Soviet Union between 1990 and early 1992...
. After the tournament, the former Soviet Republics competed as separate independent nations, with FIFA allocating the Soviet team's record to Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
.
Former Soviet republics
| Nation | Confederation | International Tournament (s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA | |||
| UEFA | |||
| UEFA | |||
| UEFA | UEFA Euro 2012 play-offs UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs The UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-off ties were played over two legs, with the first legs on 11 November and the second legs on 15 November 2011... |
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| UEFA | |||
| UEFA | Member of AFC 1992–2002 | ||
| AFC | |||
| UEFA | UEFA Euro 2004 | ||
| UEFA | |||
| UEFA | |||
| UEFA | 1994 FIFA World Cup 1994 FIFA World Cup The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988... UEFA Euro 1996 1998 FIFA World Cup play-offs 2002 FIFA World Cup 2002 FIFA World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0... UEFA Euro 2004 UEFA Euro 2008 2010 FIFA World Cup play-offs UEFA Euro 2012 |
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| AFC | |||
| AFC | 2004 AFC Asian Cup 2004 AFC Asian Cup The 2004 AFC Asian Cup football competition is the thirteenth staging of AFC Asian Cup. It was held from July 17 to August 7, 2004 in China. The defending champions Japan defeated China in the final in Beijing.... |
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| UEFA | 1998 FIFA World Cup play-offs UEFA Euro 2000 play-offs 2002 FIFA World Cup play-offs 2006 FIFA World Cup 2006 FIFA World Cup The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six... 2010 FIFA World Cup play-offs UEFA Euro 2012 |
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| AFC | 1996 AFC Asian Cup 1996 AFC Asian Cup The Asian Football Confederation's 1996 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in the United Arab Emirates between December 4 and December 21. Saudi Arabia defeated host nation U.A.E. in the final match in Abu Dhabi.-Qualification:... 2000 AFC Asian Cup 2000 AFC Asian Cup The Asian Football Confederation's 2000 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Lebanon between October 12 and October 29. Japan defeated defending champion Saudi Arabia in the final match in Beirut.-Qualification:... 2004 AFC Asian Cup 2004 AFC Asian Cup The 2004 AFC Asian Cup football competition is the thirteenth staging of AFC Asian Cup. It was held from July 17 to August 7, 2004 in China. The defending champions Japan defeated China in the final in Beijing.... 2007 AFC Asian Cup 2007 AFC Asian Cup The Asian Football Confederation's 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals were held from July 7 to July 29, 2007. For the first time in its history, the competition was co-hosted by four nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The tournament was won by first-time champions Iraq, who defeated Saudi... 2011 AFC Asian Cup 2011 AFC Asian Cup The 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar on 7–29 January 2011. It was the fifteenth time the tournament has been held, and the second time it has been hosted by Qatar, the other being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup... |
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World Cup record
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 19301930 FIFA World Cup The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930... |
Did Not Enter | |||||||
 19341934 FIFA World Cup The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934.... |
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 19381938 FIFA World Cup The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:... |
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 19501950 FIFA World Cup The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II... |
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 19541954 FIFA World Cup The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game... |
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 19581958 FIFA World Cup The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European... |
Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
 19621962 FIFA World Cup The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final... |
Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 |
 19661966 FIFA World Cup The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as... |
Fourth Place | 4th | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 |
 19701970 FIFA World Cup The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by... |
Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
 19741974 FIFA World Cup The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded... |
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 19781978 FIFA World Cup The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth... |
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 19821982 FIFA World Cup The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:... |
Round 2 | 7th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| 1986 1986 FIFA World Cup The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially... |
Round 2 | 10th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
 19901990 FIFA World Cup The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated... |
Round 1 | 17th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
 19941994 FIFA World Cup The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988... |
Succeeded by Russia Russia national football team The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is... |
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| Total | 7/9 | 31 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 53 | 34 | |
European Championship record
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 |
Winners 1960 European Nations' Cup Final The 1960 European Nations' Cup Final was the final match of the 1960 European Nations' Cup, the first UEFA European Football Championship, UEFA's top football competition for national teams... |
1st | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
 1964 |
Runners-up 1964 European Nations' Cup Final The 1964 European Nations' Cup Final was a football match played on 21 June 1964 to determine the winner of the 1964 European Nations' Cup. The match was contested by the 1960 winners, the Soviet Union, and the hosts, Spain, at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Spain won the match 2–1, with... |
2nd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 1968 |
Fourth Place | 4th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
 1972 |
Runners-up UEFA Euro 1972 Final The UEFA Euro 1972 Final was a football match played on 18 June 1972 to determine the winner of UEFA Euro 1972. The match was contested by the Soviet Union, fighting for its second title in the tournament, and the West Germany at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels... |
2nd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
 1976 |
Quarter-finals | |||||||
| 1980 |
Did Not Qualify | |||||||
| 1984 |
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| 1988 |
Runners-up UEFA Euro 1988 Final The UEFA Euro 1988 Final was a football match played on 25 June 1988 to determine the winner of UEFA Euro 1988. The match was contested by the Soviet Union, playing in what would turn out to be the nation's last European Championship, and the Netherlands at the Olympiastadion in Munich... |
2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| 1992 |
Succeeded by CIS CIS national football team The CIS national football team represented the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional confederation formed by 12 of the 15 newly formed sovereign states that emerged out of the break-up of the Soviet Union between 1990 and early 1992... |
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| Total | 6/8 | 1 Title | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 12 |
Post Soviet Union national football team Competitive record
Most capped Soviet players
Player records are accurate as of December 1991.| # | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oleg Blokhin Oleg Blokhin Oleh Volodymyrovych "Oleg" Blokhin is a Ukrainian football coach and current head coach of the Ukrainian national team. Blokhin was formerly a standout striker for Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team... |
1972 – 1988 | 112 | 42 |
| 2 | Rinat Dasaev | 1979 – 1990 | 91 | 0 |
| 3 | Albert Shesternev | 1961 – 1971 | 90 | 0 |
| 4 | Anatoliy Demyanenko | 1981 – 1990 | 80 | 6 |
| 5 | Volodymyr Bezsonov | 1977 – 1990 | 79 | 4 |
| 6 | Siarhey Aleinikaw | 1984 – 1991 | 77 | 6 |
| 7 | Lev Yashin Lev Yashin Lev Ivanovich Yashin nicknamed as "The Black Spider", was a Soviet-Russian football goalkeeper, considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game. He was known for his superior athleticism in goal, imposing stature, amazing reflex saves and inventing the idea of... |
1954 – 1967 | 74 | 0 |
| 8 | Murtaz Khurtsilava Murtaz Khurtsilava Murtaz Kalistratovich Khurtsilava is a former Georgian footballer. He was a famed defender.... |
1965 – 1973 | 69 | 6 |
| 9 | Oleg Protasov Oleg Protasov Oleh Valeriyovych Protasov is a former football striker. He was a key member of the Soviet Union national team throughout the 1980s; his 29 goals for the Soviet Union are second in the team's history, behind Oleh Blokhin's 42... |
1984 – 1991 | 68 | 29 |
| 10 | Valeriy Voronin | 1960 – 1968 | 66 | 5 |
| 11 | Oleg Kuznetsov Oleg Kuznetsov Oleh Volodymyrovych Kuznetsov – or Oleg Wladimirowitsch Kuznetsow is a former professional Ukrainian football player. Kuznetsov had started playing football when he was 8 years old... |
1986 – 1991 | 63 | 1 |
| 12 | Volodymyr Kaplichny | 1968 – 1974 | 62 | 0 |
| 13 | Valentin Ivanov Valentin Kozmich Ivanov Valentin Kozmich Ivanov was a football winger/striker, co-leading scorer at the 1962 World Cup and co-1960 European Nations' Cup top scorer.Ivanov appeared 59 times for the Soviet Union, scoring 26 goals... |
1956 – 1965 | 59 | 26 |
| 14 | Vagiz Khidiatulin | 1978 – 1990 | 58 | 6 |
| 15 | Gennadiy Litovchenko Gennadiy Litovchenko Hennadiy Volodymyrovych Lytovchenko is a Ukrainian soccer coach and former midfielder and head-coach of FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv... |
1984 – 1990 | 58 | 15 |
| 16 | Viktor Kolotov Viktor Kolotov Viktor Mikhailovich Kolotov was the Soviet footballer who spent the most and the best of his years in Ukraine.... |
1970 – 1978 | 55 | 22 |
| 17 | Igor Netto Igor Netto Igor Aleksandrovich Netto was a footballer from the Soviet Union, considered one of the greatest Soviet players ever. He started out as a left defender but, due to his offensive mentality, dribbling and technical abilities turned into a dynamic central midfielder... |
1952 – 1965 | 54 | 4 |
| 18 | Igor Chislenko Igor Chislenko Igor Leonidovich Chislenko was a Soviet footballer.He played over 200 league games for FC Dinamo Moscow, winning two Soviet league titles and the Soviet Cup on one occasion. He also played for the USSR national football team, appearing 53 times, and scoring 20 goals... |
1959 – 1968 | 53 | 20 |
| 19 | Evgeniy Lovchev Evgeny Lovchev Evgeny Serafimovich Lovchev is a former Russian footballer.-Honours:* Soviet Top League winner: 1969.* Soviet Top League runner-up: 1974.* Soviet Top League bronze: 1970.* Soviet Cup winner: 1971.... |
1969 – 1977 | 52 | 1 |
| 20 | Anatoliy Banishevskiy Anatoliy Banishevskiy Anatoliy Andreyevich Banishevskiy was an Azerbaijani football player of Russian descent. He played for the USSR national football team, winning 51 caps and scoring 19 goals. Banishevskiy played for the Soviet side in the 1966 FIFA World Cup... |
1965 – 1972 | 50 | 19 |
Top goalscorers
The following statistic is based on the statistic published in Sovetskiy Sport of December 1991.| # | Player | Career | Goals (Caps) | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oleg Blokhin Oleg Blokhin Oleh Volodymyrovych "Oleg" Blokhin is a Ukrainian football coach and current head coach of the Ukrainian national team. Blokhin was formerly a standout striker for Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team... |
1972–1988 | 42 (112) | |
| 2 | Oleg Protasov Oleg Protasov Oleh Valeriyovych Protasov is a former football striker. He was a key member of the Soviet Union national team throughout the 1980s; his 29 goals for the Soviet Union are second in the team's history, behind Oleh Blokhin's 42... |
1984–1991 | 29 (68) | |
| 3 | Valentin Ivanov Valentin Kozmich Ivanov Valentin Kozmich Ivanov was a football winger/striker, co-leading scorer at the 1962 World Cup and co-1960 European Nations' Cup top scorer.Ivanov appeared 59 times for the Soviet Union, scoring 26 goals... |
1956–1965 | 26 (59) | |
| 4 | Eduard Streltsov Eduard Streltsov Eduard Anatolyevich Streltsov was a Soviet footballer who represented Torpedo Moscow as a forward. Joining Torpedo at the age of 16 from the Fraser factory team in 1953, Streltsov made his international debut two years later and played a key role in winning the gold medal for the Soviet national... |
1955–1968 | 25 (38) | |
| 5 | Viktor Kolotov Viktor Kolotov Viktor Mikhailovich Kolotov was the Soviet footballer who spent the most and the best of his years in Ukraine.... |
1970–1978 | 22 (55) | |
| 6 | Viktor Ponedelnik Viktor Ponedelnik Viktor Vladimirovich Ponedelnik is a former Soviet football player, regarded as one of the best strikers in Soviet football history.... |
1960–1966 | 20 (29) | |
| Igor Chislenko Igor Chislenko Igor Leonidovich Chislenko was a Soviet footballer.He played over 200 league games for FC Dinamo Moscow, winning two Soviet league titles and the Soviet Cup on one occasion. He also played for the USSR national football team, appearing 53 times, and scoring 20 goals... |
1959–1968 | 20 (53) | ||
| 8 | Anatoliy Banishevskiy Anatoliy Banishevskiy Anatoliy Andreyevich Banishevskiy was an Azerbaijani football player of Russian descent. He played for the USSR national football team, winning 51 caps and scoring 19 goals. Banishevskiy played for the Soviet side in the 1966 FIFA World Cup... |
1965–1972 | 19 (50) | |
| 9 | Anatoliy Ilyin | 1952–1959 | 16 (31) | |
| 10 | Anatoliy Byshovets | 1966–1972 | 15 (39) | |
| Gennadiy Litovchenko Gennadiy Litovchenko Hennadiy Volodymyrovych Lytovchenko is a Ukrainian soccer coach and former midfielder and head-coach of FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv... |
1984–1990 | 15 (58) | ||
| 12 | Fedor Cherenkov | 1979–1990 | 12 (34) | |
| 13 | Sergei Salnikov Sergei Salnikov Sergei Sergeyevich Salnikov was a Soviet football player and manager.-Honours:* Olympic champion: 1956.* Soviet Top League winner: 1954, 1956, 1958.... |
1954–1958 | 11 (20) | |
| Volodymyr Onyschenko | 1972–1977 | 11 (44) | ||
| Slava Metreveli Slava Metreveli Slava Kalistratovich Metreveli was a Georgian football player and later a football manager.Metreveli played most of his career for Torpedo Moscow and Dinamo Tbilisi .... |
1958–1970 | 11 (48) | ||
| 16 | Nikita (Mkrtych) Simonyan | 1954–1958 | 10 (20) | |
| Ramaz Shengelia Ramaz Shengelia Ramaz Aleksandrovich Shengelia is a former Georgian footballer. He won 26 caps and scored 10 goals for the USSR national football team, and played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.-Honours:*Soviet Top League Champion: 1978... |
1979–1983 | 10 (26) | ||
| Yuriy Gavrilov Yuri Gavrilov Yuri Vasilyevich Gavrilov is a Russian football manager and a former midfielder who played for Dynamo Moscow and Spartak Moscow. He made 46 appearances for the USSR national football team and scored 10 goals. He also competed for the Soviet Union at the 1980 Summer Olympics and the 1982 FIFA... |
1978–1985 | 10 (46) | ||
See also
- Soviet Union national under-21 football team
- Soviet Union national football team all-time recordSoviet Union national football team all-time recordThe list shown below shows the national football teams of the Soviet Union and the CIS all-time international record against opposing nations. The stats are composed of FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Football Championship and Summer Olympics matches, as well as numerous international friendly...