This is the 301st episode of my podcast, 'Soccernostalgia Talk Podcast’.
For this episode, I interview Northern Irish Author Mr. Conor Kenny as we discuss his
book ‘Sbornaya: The Mixed Fortunes of the USSR Football Teams’ (2026).
For any questions/comments,
you may contact us:
You may also contact me on
this blog, on twitter @sp1873 and on facebook under Soccernostalgia.
Following
USSR’s elimination from qualifying to the Finals of Euro 1984, the Soviet
Authorities dismissed The Manager Valeri Lobanovsky.
The
new man in charge that they appointed was former Dinamo Minsk Manager Eduard
Malofeyev. He had led Dinamo Minsk to the Soviet League Title in the Fall of
1982 and now his mission was qualification for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Malofeyev
could still call upon the backbone of the team that included players from
Spartak Moscow (goalkeeper Rinat Dassayev, Yuri Gavrilov), Dinamo Tblissi
(Chivadze, Sulakvelidze), not to mention the Dinamo Kiev contingent (Baltacha,
Bessonov, Demiannenko, Blokhin).
Many
of his former Minsk players (Aleinkov, Gotsmanov, Zigmantovich and Kondratiev)
now had opportunities in the new regime.
Dnipropetrovsk
pair of Gennadi Litovchenko and excellent striker Oleg Protasov were also now
in International reckoning after helping Dnipro win the Soviet League title in
the Fall of 1983.
USSR
played a number of friendlies in 1984 in preparation for the World Cup
qualifiers that would start in September.
They
lost to West Germany (March 28, 1984, 1-2), but defeated Finland (May 15, 1984,
3-1) and Mexico (August 19, 1984, 3-0).
Their
best display was in defeating England at Wembley (June 2, 1984, 2-0).
Malofeyev
experimented in these matches and included many of the aforementioned new
Dinamo Minsk and Dnipro players.
Their
World Cup qualifying group included Denmark, who had surprised everyone during
the 1984 European Championships. The others were Republic of Ireland,
Switzerland and Norway.
The
World Cup qualifiers started on September 12th with an away trip at
Dublin to face the Republic of Ireland. The hosts won this hard fought match
(1-0). In general the Soviets would find traveling difficult for these
qualifiers.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 55, October 1984
(September
12, 1984, World Cup Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 1-USSR 0)
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 70, December 1985
(Gennadi Litovchenko and Mark Lawrenson, September
12, 1984, World Cup Qualifier, Republic of Ireland 1-USSR 0)
The
second match at Oslo vs. Norway on October 10th was also
disappointing as the Soviets could only manage a (1-1) tie. Litovchenko replied
with a goal in the 74th minute, after the Soviets had gone behind
twenty minutes earlier to a Hallvar Thoresen penalty kick (awarded after
Rodionov had fouled Thoresen in the box). For this match at Norway, Oleg
Blokhin had been dropped. Officially, it had been stated that his
unavailability was due to injury. Many believed it was because he had quarreled
with his teammates.
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 41, October 14, 1984
(Sergei Alienikov and Hallvar Thoresen, October
10, 1984, World Cup Qualifier, Norway 1-USSR 1)
In
the New Year (1985), Malofeyev took the squad to participate in the Jawaharlal
Nehru Cup in India.
They
came back victorious after wins vs. China, Iran, Morocco and a Final win vs.
Yugoslavia.
In
preparation for the away qualifier at Berne vs. Switzerland, the Soviets took
upon Austria in a friendly at Tblissi and won (2-0).
After
two disappointing away performances, the Soviets were eager to come away with a
positive result vs. the Swiss. They seemed to be headed to a rare away victory
after Demianenko had given them the lead with ten minutes remaining. However,
Andre Egli scored Switzerland’s equalizer at the death to deprive the USSR of
its first win in the group.
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 16, April 21, 1985
(April 17, 1985, World Cup Qualifier,
Switzerland 2-USSR 2)
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 70, December 1985
(USSR Squad, April 17, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, Switzerland 2-USSR 2)
Two
weeks later they faced the same opponents on home turf. Malofeyev had vowed
they USSR would play an attacking game at home. They tore apart Switzerland and
scored four goals (two apiece by Protasov and Kondratiev) in just the first
half. Future Ballon d’Or winner Igor Belanov made his debut for the Soviet
Union by coming on for Litovchenko with ten minutes left.
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 18, May 5, 1985
(May 2, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR
4-Switzerland 0)
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 18, May 5, 1985
(May 2, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR
4-Switzerland 0)
Photo
From: kicker_WM-Sonderheft_1986
(Oleg Protasov, May 2, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, USSR 4-Switzerland 0)
On June 5th, they faced the impressive Denmark squad at Copenhagen.
What more can be said about one of the most referenced matches in the history
of Football. This match has gone down as a perfect example of attacking and
attractive Football being played by both teams. Denmark won (4-2), but despite
the loss, the Soviets were praised for their approach.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 70, December 1985
(Preben
Elkjaer, June 5, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Denmark 4-USSR 2)
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 70, December 1985
(Preben
Elkjaer and Tengiz Sulakvelidze, June 5, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Denmark
4-USSR 2
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2073, December 31, 1985
(USSR Squad, Top, left to right: Rinat
Dassayev, Yuri Gavrilov, Oleg Protasov, Sergei Aleinikov, Tengiz Sulakvelidze, Gennadi Litovchenko , Bottom, left to right; Sergey Baltacha, Igor Belanov , Boris Pozdniakov, Sergei Gotsmanov, Anatoli Demianenko , June 5, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, Denmark 4-USSR 2)
The
Soviets started the final phase of the qualification with preparatory
friendlies vs. Romania and West Germany in August (both won by them).
Alexander
Zavarov made his debut for National team in the match vs. Romania.
Oleg
Blokhin was now re-integrated back into the squad after having fallen out with
his teammates the previous year.
On
September 25th, they took upon group rivals Denmark in Moscow. The
high scoring Oleg protasov was the difference as they won this key match to
inch closer to qualification.
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 39, September 29, 1985
(September
25, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 1-Denmark 0)
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 39, September 29, 1985
(September
25, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 1-Denmark 0)
The
Soviets were to close out the qualification matches in the month of October at
home vs. Republic of Ireland and Norway (within two weeks of one another).
The
Irish (surprisingly good away from home) were defeated (2-0) with once again
Protasov amongst the scorers.
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 42, October 20, 1985
(October
16, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 2-Republic of Ireland 0)
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 42, October 20, 1985
(October
16, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 2-Republic of Ireland 0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 119, November 1985
(Fyodor
Cherernkov, October 16, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 2-Republic of Ireland
0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 119, November 1985
(Protasov’s
goal, October 16, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 2-Republic of Ireland 0)
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 119, November 1985
(USSR Squad, October 16, 1985, World Cup
Qualifier, USSR 2-Republic of Ireland 0)
At
the end of the month, they defeated Norway (1-0) with a goal from Kondratiev in
very cold temperatures. They qualified for the World Cup Finals along with
group winner Denmark.
Photo
From: Футбол - Футбол-Хоккей, Issue 44, November 3, 1985
(October
30, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 1-Norway 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2065, November 5, 1985
(October
30, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 1-Norway 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2065, November 5, 1985
(October
30, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR 1-Norway 0)
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 2065, November 5, 1985
(October 30, 1985, World Cup Qualifier, USSR
1-Norway 0)
In
the New Year, the Soviets took part in customary friendly matches in
preparation for the World Cup.
The
results were disastrous as they successively lost to Spain (January 22, 1986,
0-2), Mexico (February 19, 1986, 0-1), England (at Tblissi, March 26, 1986,
0-1) and Romania (April 23, 1986, 1-2).
The
authorities fearing a disaster at the World Cup, removed Malofeyev from his
post and re-appointed Valeri Lobanovsky as National Team Manager.
Lobanovsky
flooded the squad with his own Dinamo Kiev players and installed Belanov and
Zavarov in leading roles.
The
Soviets were impressive in the first round of the Finals, which included the
(6-0) hammering of Hungary. They were eliminated in the second round by Belgium
(3-4). Igor Belanov and Alexander Zavarov’s performances earned the former the
Ballon d’Or and the latter the Soviet Player of the year Award.
1986 World Cup Qualifiers-Euroepan Zone-Group 6
September
12, 1984 (Oslo) (Norway 0-Switzerland 1)
Erik
Thordsvet, Hans Herman Henriksen, Terje Kojedal, Aage Hareide, Per Edmund
Mordt, Vidar Davidsen, Kai Erik Herlovsen, Tom Sundby, Jorn Andersen
(Sverre Brandhaug 75th), Arne Larsen-Oakland, Hallvar Thoresen
Coach:
Tor-Roste Fossen
Other
Subs: Ola By Rise, Arne Erlandsen,
Trond
Sollied, Goran Sorloth
Table
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
1
USSR
8
4
2
2
13
8
5
10
2
Denmark
7
4
1
2
13
5
8
9
3
Switzerland
7
2
3
2
4
9
-5
7
4
Ireland
7
2
2
3
4
6
-2
6
5
Norway
7
1
2
4
3
9
-6
4
November
13, 1985 (Dublin) (Republic of Ireland 1-Denmark 4)
November
13, 1985 (Luzern) (Switzerland 1-Norway 1)
