View source for Soviet Union national football team

{{short description|Men's association football team (1922–1992)}}
{{about|the men's team|the women's team|Soviet Union women's national football team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox national football team
| Name               = Soviet Union
| date               = 1924–1991
| Badge              = Soviet Union football federation.png
| Badge_size         = 180px
| Nickname           = ''[[Red Army]]''
| Association        = [[Football Federation of the Soviet Union]]
| Most caps          = [[Oleg Blokhin]] (112)
| Top scorer         = [[Oleg Blokhin]] (42)
| Home Stadium       = [[Luzhniki Stadium|Central Lenin Stadium]]
| FIFA Trigramme     = URS
| FIFA Rank          = 
| FIFA max           = 
| FIFA max date      = 
| Elo Rank           = 
| Elo max            = 1
| Elo max date       = 1963–65, 1966, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987, 1988
| pattern_la1        = 
| pattern_b1         = _Soviet_Union
| pattern_ra1        = 
| leftarm1           = FF0000
| body1              = FF0000
| rightarm1          = FF0000
| shorts1            = FFFFFF
| socks1             = FF0000
| pattern_la2        = 
| pattern_b2         = _Soviet_Union_away
| pattern_ra2        = 
| leftarm2           = FFFFFF
| body2              = FFFFFF
| rightarm2          = FFFFFF
| shorts2            = FFFFFF
| socks2             = FFFFFF
| First game         = {{fb|URS|1924}} 3–0 {{fb-rt|TUR}}<br />([[Moscow]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], Soviet Union; 16 November 1924)
| Last game          = {{fb|CYP|1960}} 0–3 {{fb-rt|URS}}<br />([[Larnaca]], [[Cyprus]]; 13 November 1991)
| Largest win        = {{fb|URS|1955}} 11–1 {{fb-rt|IND}}<br />([[Moscow]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], Soviet Union; 16 September 1955)<br />{{fb|FIN}} 0–10 {{fb-rt|URS|1955}}<br />([[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]; 15 August 1957)
| Largest loss       = {{fb|ENG}} 5–0 {{fb-rt|URS|1955}}<br />([[London]], [[England]]; 22 October 1958)
| World cup apps     = 7
| World cup first    = 1958
| World cup best     = Fourth place, [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]
| Regional name      = [[UEFA European Championship|European Championship]]
| Regional cup apps  = 6
| Regional cup first = [[1960 European Nations' Cup|1960]]
| Regional cup best  = '''Champions''', [[1960 European Nations' Cup|1960]]
| medaltemplates     =
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[UEFA Euro 1960|1960 France]]|[[UEFA Euro 1960 squads#Soviet Union|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[UEFA Euro 1964|1964 Spain]]|[[UEFA Euro 1964 squads#Soviet Union|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[UEFA Euro 1972|1972 Belgium]]|[[UEFA Euro 1972 squads#Soviet Union|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[UEFA Euro 1988|1988 West Germany]]|[[UEFA Euro 1988 squads#Soviet Union|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne]]|[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]|[[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich]]|[[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal]]|[[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[1980 Summer Olympics|1980 Moscow]]|[[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
}}
The '''Soviet Union national football team''' ({{lang-rus|сбо́рная СССР по футбо́лу|r=sbórnaya SSSR po futbólu}}) was the national [[Association football|football]] team who represented the [[Soviet Union]] from 1922 to 1992.

After the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|breakup of the Union]] the team was transformed into the [[CIS national football team]]. [[FIFA]] and [[UEFA]] considers the CIS national football team (and ultimately, the [[Russia national football team]]) as the Soviet successor team allocating its former records to them (except for the Olympic records which are not combined due to the IOC policy); nevertheless, a large percentage of the team's former players came from outside the [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], mainly from the [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]], and following the breakup of the Soviet Union, some such as [[Andrei Kanchelskis]] from the former Ukrainian SSR, continued to play in the new Russia national football team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/playing-for-the-enemy-the-ukrainian-footballers-who-sign-for-russian-clubs/#:~:text=In%20Soviet%20times%2C%20Ukraine%20had,national%20side%20throughout%20the%201980s.|title=Playing for the enemy: The Ukrainian footballers who sign for Russian clubs|date=12 January 2020 |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>

The Soviet Union failed to qualify for the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] only twice, in 1974 and 1978, and attended seven finals tournaments in total. Their best finish was fourth in [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]], when they lost to [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] in the semifinals, 2&ndash;1. The Soviet Union qualified for five [[UEFA European Championship|European Championships]], winning the inaugural competition in [[1960 European Nations' Cup|1960]] when they beat [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] in the final, 2&ndash;1. They finished second three times ([[1964 European Nations' Cup|1964]], [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972]], [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]]), and fourth once ([[UEFA Euro 1968|1968]]), when, having drawn with [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in the semi-final, they were sent to the third-place playoff match by the loss of a [[Coin flipping|coin toss]]. The Soviet Union national team also participated in a number of Olympic tournaments earning the gold medal in [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956]] and [[1988 Summer Olympics|1988]]. The Soviet team continued to field its national team players in Olympic tournaments despite the prohibition of FIFA in 1958 to field any national team players in Olympics (players in the Olympics were required to be amateurs at the time, the Soviets effectively bent the rules by listing their best players in the military).<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0415/041531.html|title=How the Russians break the Olympic rules|journal=Christian Science Monitor |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/21/archives/soviet-amateur-athlete-a-real-pro-dr-john-nelson-washburn-is-an.html|title=Soviet Amateur Athlete: A Real Pro|work=The New York Times |date=21 July 1974 |access-date=30 March 2024 |last1=Washburn |first1=J. N. }}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|Russian Empire national football team}}

===First games===
[[File:Soviet union football team 1927.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Soviet Union team of 1927]]
Because of the circumstances, surrounding [[October Revolution]] and later the 1917–1922 [[Russian Civil War]], [[Soviet Russia]] was internationally diplomatically isolated, making it unable to participate in the international competitions. In 1922, founded the Bolshevik state of the [[Soviet Union]]. After the civil war, the Soviet Union managed to establish international communication with politically similar factions in Europe and around the globe. The Soviet Union joined the [[Red Sport International]] proclaiming any sports events outside of the RSI to be "part of the bourgeoisie".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.bu.edu/guidedhistory/russia-and-its-empires/guy-mcfall/|title=The Soviet Union and the Olympics|access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>

The first international match played by a Soviet team (as the [[Russian SFSR]]) came in September 1922, when the [[Finnish Workers' Sports Federation football team]] toured Russia (Russia formed the [[Soviet Union]] at the end of December 1922, [[Treaty on the Creation of the USSR]]). The Soviet Russia XI scored a 4–1 victory over the Finns in [[Petrograd]]. This was also the first international contact for Soviet sports after the 1917 [[October Revolution]]. In May 1923, the Soviet team visited [[Finland]] and beat the Finnish squad 5–0.<ref>{{cite book | last= Hentilä | first= Seppo | date= 1982 | title= Suomen työläisurheilun historia I. Työväen Urheiluliitto 1919–1944 | location= Hämeenlinna | publisher= Karisto | pages= 146–148 | isbn= 951-23216-0-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last= Hentilä | first= Seppo | date= 2014 | title= Bewegung, Kultur und Alltag im Arbeitersport | location= Helsinki | publisher= The Finnish Society for Labour History | page= 48 | url= https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/136470 | isbn= 978-952-59762-6-7 | language= de | access-date= 10 June 2017 | archive-date= 3 May 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180503052343/https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/136470 | url-status= live }}</ref> The first match against national team was played in August 1923, nine months after the establishment of the Soviet Union, when a [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]] team beat [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] 2&ndash;1 in [[Stockholm]].<ref name="RSSSF">{{cite web| title=Soviet Union – International Results 1911-1935| work=RSSSF| url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/ussr-intres1135.html| access-date=13 January 2007| archive-date=30 December 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230065127/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/ussr-intres1135.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

The first match as the actual Soviet Union football team took place a year later, a 3&ndash;0 win over [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]]. This and a return match in [[Ankara]] were the only officially recognised international matches played by the Soviet Union 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 Soviet Union. In the preliminary round, [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] were defeated 2&ndash;1, earning a first-round tie against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]. Before the match, both [[Josip Broz Tito|Tito]] and [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]] sent telegrams to their national teams, which showed just how important it was for the two heads of state.<ref name="russianfootballnews.com">{{cite web| title=USSR – Yugoslavia, the Story of Two Different Football Conceptions| work=russianfootballnews.com| url=http://russianfootballnews.com/ussr-yugoslavia-the-story-of-two-different-football-conceptions/| access-date=27 November 2017| archive-date=24 April 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424080019/http://russianfootballnews.com/ussr-yugoslavia-the-story-of-two-different-football-conceptions/| url-status=live}}</ref> Yugoslavia led 5&ndash;1, but a Soviet comeback in the last 15 minutes resulted in a 5&ndash;5 draw. The match was replayed, Yugoslavia winning 3&ndash;1.<ref>{{cite web| title=Yugoslavia National Team List of Results 1950-1959| work=RSSSF| url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesj/joeg-intres50.html| access-date=13 January 2007| archive-date=24 November 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124155124/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesj/joeg-intres50.html| url-status=live}}</ref> The defeat to the archrivals hit Soviet football hard, and after just three games played in the season, [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]], who had made up most of the USSR squad, was forced to withdraw from the [[Soviet Top League|league]] and later disbanded. Furthermore, [[Boris Arkadiev]], who coached both USSR and CSKA, was stripped of his [[Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR and Russia|Merited Master of Sports]] of the USSR title.<ref name="russianfootballnews.com"/>

===Sweden trials and the triumph===
The Soviet Union, coached by Gavriil Khachalin, entered the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] for the first time at the [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958 tournament]], following a qualification playoff against [[Poland national football team|Poland]].<ref>{{cite web| title=1958 – Qualifying competition| work=Planet World Cup| url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1958/wc58qualification.html| access-date=13 January 2007| archive-date=19 January 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070119045223/http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1958/wc58qualification.html| url-status=live}}</ref> Drawn in a group with Brazil, England, and Austria, they collected three points in total, one from England and two from Austria. The Soviet Union and England went to a playoff game, in which [[Anatoli Ilyin]] scored in the 67th minute to knock England out. The Soviet Union was then eliminated by the hosts of the tournament, Sweden, in the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/197632|title=Sweden 2-0 Soviet Union|access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>

The inaugural [[UEFA European Championship|European Championships]] in 1960 marked the pinnacle of Soviet footballing achievement. Easily progressing to the quarter-finals, the team were scheduled to face [[Spain national football team|Spain]], but due to the tensions of the [[Cold War]], Spain refused to travel to the Soviet Union, resulting in a [[Walkover (contest)|walkover]]. In the semi-final, the Soviet team defeated Czechoslovakia 3&ndash;0 and reached the final, where they faced Yugoslavia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/60e-full.html|title=European Championship 1960 (Details)|access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>

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&ndash;1, and [[Viktor Ponedelnik]] scored with seven minutes left in extra time to give the Soviets the inaugural European Championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theathletic.com/4981388/2023/10/23/how-soviet-union-won-euro-1960/ |title=How the Soviet Union won Euro 1960: A 'WM' formation, Franco's Spain withdrawal and Lev Yashin|work=The Athletic |publisher=The New York Times |url-access=subscription |date=Oct 22, 2023 |access-date=28 March 2024 |last1=Cox |first1=Michael |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414042016/https://theathletic.com/4981388/2023/10/23/how-soviet-union-won-euro-1960/ |archive-date= 2024-04-14  }}</ref>

===The end of Kachalin's dream-team===
[[File:Yashin v argentina.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lev Yashin trying to stop the shot by Argentine striker José Sanfilippo, during the match played at Buenos Aires in 1961. The Soviet Union won 2–1]]
In the [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 World Cup]], the Soviet team was in Group 1 with Yugoslavia, Colombia, and [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]]. The match between the Soviet Union and Colombia ended 4–4; Colombia scored a series of goals (68', 72', 86').<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/12/golden-goal-marcos-coll-scores-from-a-corner-for-colombia-v-ussr-1962#:~:text=The%20game%20ended%204%2D4,terminal%20to%20the%20Soviets'%20campaign.|title=Golden Goal: Marcos Coll scores from a corner for Colombia v USSR (1962)|newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 June 2018 |access-date=29 March 2024 |last1=McVeigh |first1=Niall }}</ref> Star goalkeeper Lev Yashin was in poor form both against Colombia and Chile. His form was considered one of the main reasons why the Soviet Union team did not gain more success in the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketsoccer.com/2021/07/15/soviet-union-and-the-world-cup-always-promising-but-underachievers/#:~:text=Legendary%20goalkeeper%20Lev%20Yashin%20was,more%20success%20in%20the%20tournament.&text=They%20were%20placed%20in%20Group,North%20Korea%2C%20Italy%20and%20Chile. |website=CricketSoccer |first1=Faisal |last1=Caesar |date=July 15, 2021  |title=Soviet Union and the World Cup: Always promising but underachievers|access-date=11 February 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211120003/https://www.cricketsoccer.com/2021/07/15/soviet-union-and-the-world-cup-always-promising-but-underachievers/#:~:text=Legendary%20goalkeeper%20Lev%20Yashin%20was,more%20success%20in%20the%20tournament.&text=They%20were%20placed%20in%20Group,North%20Korea%2C%20Italy%20and%20Chile. |archive-date=11 February 2023 }}</ref>

In 1964, the Soviet Union attempted to defend their European Championship title, defeating Italy in the last 16 (2&ndash;0, 1&ndash;1) and to reach the quarter-finals. After two matches against Sweden, the Soviet side won on aggregate (1&ndash;1, 3&ndash;1).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/64e.html |date=31 Jan 2007 |first1=Erik |last1=Garin|first2=Karel |last2=Stokkermans|first3=Martín |last3=Tabeira |website=RSSSF |title=European Championship 1964|access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> The Soviet Union team went to Spain where the finals were held. In the semi-finals, the Soviet Union defeated Denmark 3&ndash;0 in [[Barcelona]] but their dreams of winning the title again were dashed in the final when Spain, the host, scored a late goal, winning 2–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/64e-det.html |first1=Barrie |last1=Courtney |date=8 May 2008 |website=RSSSF  |title=European Championship 1964 - Details Final Tournament|access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7b2fe55184-528b8a894544-1000--marcelino-header-wins-euro-1964-for-spain/ |website=UEFA |title=Marcelino heads Spain to EURO 1964 final win against USSR|date=February 12, 2016 |orig-date=2 October 2003 |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>

===The late 1960s: Semi-finals at World Cup and European Championships===
The [[1966 FIFA World Cup]] was the tournament in which the Soviet Union team reached their best result by finishing in fourth place. The Soviet Union was in Group 4 with [[Korea DPR national football team|North Korea]], [[Italy national football team|Italy]] and [[Chile national football team|Chile]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/197746/north-korea-soviet-union|title=Soviet Union 3-0 North Korea (12 Jul, 1966) Final Score |website=ESPN (IN) |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/197749|title=Soviet Union 1-0 Italy (Jul 16, 1966) Final Score |website= ESPN |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.sg/football/match/_/gameId/197751|title=Soviet Union 2-1 Chile (20 Jul, 1966) Final Score |website= ESPN (SG) |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> In all three matches, the Soviet Union 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 playoff match, respectively. The 1966 squad was the second-best scoring Soviet team in World Cup history, with 10 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/197752|title=Soviet Union 2-1 Hungary (23 Jul, 1966) Final Score |website=ESPN (UK) |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/197755/soviet-union-germany-fr|title=Germany FR 2-1 Soviet Union (25 Jul, 1966) Final Score |website=ESPN (IN) |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/197762|title=Portugal 2-1 Soviet Union (28 Jul, 1966) Final Score |website=ESPN (IN) |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>

For the [[UEFA Euro 1968|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 the Soviet Union and Italy ended 0&ndash;0. It was decided to toss a coin to see who reached the final, rather than play a replay.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7b2f5adb06-fa5820ecb86b-1000--coin-toss-takes-italy-to-euro-1968-final-after-ussr-stal/ |date=January 22, 2014 |website=UEFA |orig-date=October 2, 2003 |title=Coin toss takes Italy to EURO 1968 final after USSR stalemate|access-date=29 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231108070749/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7b2f5adb06-fa5820ecb86b-1000--coin-toss-takes-italy-to-euro-1968-final-after-ussr-stal/ |archive-date= 2023-11-08 }}</ref> Italy won, and went on to become European champions. On 8 June 1968, the Soviets were defeated by England in the third-place match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b2e1adede-c896e22df928-1000--england-beat-soviet-union-to-win-euro-1968-third-place-pla/|title=England beat Soviet Union to win EURO 1968 third-place play-off|date=June 1, 2016 |orig-date=2 October 2003 |website=UEFA |access-date=30 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713180251/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b2e1adede-c896e22df928-1000--england-beat-soviet-union-to-win-euro-1968-third-place-pla/ |archive-date= 2024-07-13 }}</ref>

===Kachalin's second attempt===
The [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]] started with the match between [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] and the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://footballbh.net/2023/08/05/mexico-70-1970-world-cup-mexico-vs-soviet-union/ |website=Football Bloody Hell |first1=Chris |last1=Beaumont |date=5 August 2023 |title=Mexico 70: Sunday, 31st May 1970 and the tournament gets underway with the hosts in action|access-date=28 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001163547/https://footballbh.net/2023/08/05/mexico-70-1970-world-cup-mexico-vs-soviet-union/ |archive-date= 2023-10-01 }}</ref> The Soviet team became the first team to make a substitution in World Cup history in this match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topendsports.com/events/worldcupsoccer/firsts.htm |first1=Robert |last1=Wood |date=September 2010 |website=Topend Sports |title=Football World Cup Firsts|access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref> 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 Soviet Union reached the quarter-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/197790|title=Uruguay 1-0 Soviet Union (Jun 14, 1970) Final Score |website=ESPN |access-date=30 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730214755/https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/197790 |archive-date= 2024-07-30 }}</ref>

The final tournament of the [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972 European Championships]] took place between 14 and 18 June 1972. Again, only four teams were in the finals. The Soviets defeated Hungary 1&ndash;0, with a second-half goal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b2eacd5ab-4d9376e1d2e9-1000--ussr-make-it-past-hungary-to-reach-euro-1972-final/ |website=UEFA |title=USSR make it past Hungary to reach EURO 1972 final|orig-date=3 October 2003 |date=March 9, 2016 |access-date=30 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529060824/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b2eacd5ab-4d9376e1d2e9-1000--ussr-make-it-past-hungary-to-reach-euro-1972-final/ |archive-date=2023-05-29 }}</ref> The final was between West Germany and the Soviet Union. 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 Soviet Union finished as runner-up.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/3838--west-germany-vs-ussr/|title=History: West Germany 3-0 USSR {{!}} UEFA EURO 1972 Final |website=UEFA |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>

===Failures to qualify in the 1970s===
[[File:Argentina vs urss buenos aires.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Soviet Union playing [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] at [[Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti|El Monumental]], Buenos Aires, November 1976]]
After being runners up at Euro 1972, the rest of the 1970s were bleak for the Soviets, who were disqualified from the [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974 World Cup]] as a result of a refusal to play [[Chile national football team|Chile]] in the aftermath of the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état]] and failed to qualify for the [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978 World Cup]] or the 1976 and 1980 European Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-union-refuses-to-play-chile-in-world-cup-soccer |website=    HISTORY |date=November 13, 2009 |title=Soviet Union refuses to play Chile in World Cup Soccer|access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>

===Beskov recovers the team===
[[File:Belgium vs ussr 1986.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Soviet Union v [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]]]]
The [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]] was the Soviet Union's first major tournament appearance for a decade. The Soviet Union was in Group 6 with Brazil, Scotland, and New Zealand. Goals by [[Sócrates]] and [[Éder Aleixo]] marked the defeat of the Soviet side against Brazil in the first group match and they were eventually eliminated in the second round by finishing the group in second place when they defeated Belgium only 1&ndash;0 and drew against Poland with an 0&ndash;0 results.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/197901/soviet-union-brazil|title=Brazil 2-1 Soviet Union (Jun 14, 1982) Final Score |website=ESPN |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/197908|title=Soviet Union 1-0 Belgium (1 Jul, 1982) Final Score |website= ESPN (IN) |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/26/2138336/-The-thrill-of-watching-Poland-knock-out-the-USSR-in-the-1982-World-Cup-during-martial-law |first1=Charles |last1=Jay |website=Daily Kos |date=November 26, 2022 |title=How Poland booted the USSR from the World Cup in 1982 and Russia in 2022|access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> In 1984, the Soviets again failed to qualify for the European Championships, but succeeded in qualifying for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]]. The Soviet Union was in Group C with Hungary, France, and Canada. The Soviets used [[Irapuato, Guanajuato]] as their training ground in the World Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/03/sports/world-cup-soviet-union-argentina-win-openers.html|title=WORLD CUP; SOVIET UNION, ARGENTINA WIN OPENERS|work=The New York Times |date=3 June 1986 |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>

The Soviet team enjoyed a successful group stage by scoring nine goals and finishing the group in first place. Ultimately, however, they lost to Belgium 3–4 after extra time in the round of 16. Despite their poor performance in the cup, this team was the best scoring Soviet team in World Cup history, with 12 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/197959|title=Belgium 4-3 Soviet Union|access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>

===Lobanovsky era and demise of Soviet Union===
After failing to qualify for three consecutive European Cups (1976, 1980, 1984), the Soviets managed to qualify for the 1988 competition, the last time the Soviet Union national football team took part in the European Football Championship. The finals were held in West Germany, with eight teams participating. Soviet Union finished Group B as leaders above the Netherlands and defeated Italy 2–0 in the semi-final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b3364df10-304983f5b504-1000--stylish-ussr-overcome-youthful-italy-in-euro-1988-semi-final/|title=Stylish USSR overcome youthful Italy in EURO 1988 semi-final|date=5 October 2003 |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> In the final against the Netherlands, another team from Group B, the Netherlands avenged their group stage defeat, winning by a score of 2–0 to be crowned European champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7b2f78ca99-40f24ef873fd-1000--van-basten-volley-crowns-netherlands-euro-1988-final-win-ag/|title=Van Basten volley crowns Netherlands' EURO 1988 final win against USSR|date=5 October 2003 |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref>

The final major championship contested by the Soviet team was the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]], where they were drawn in Group B with [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], [[Romania national football team|Romania]] and [[Cameroon national football team|Cameroon]]. The only success for the Soviets came when they defeated group leaders Cameroon 4–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/197987|title=Soviet Union 4-0 Cameroon|access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> The Soviets lost their other matches and failed to qualify from the group. The Soviet Union qualified for [[UEFA Euro 1992|Euro 1992]], but the breakup of the Soviet Union meant that their place was instead taken by the [[CIS national football team]], composed of newly independent Soviet republics. After the tournament, the former Soviet republics competed as separate independent nations, with FIFA allocating the Soviet team's record to [[Russia national football team|Russia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.rfs.ru/rfs/information/general/history/|title=History. About FUR. General information. FUR|website=en.rfs.ru|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909203359/http://en.rfs.ru/rfs/information/general/history/|archive-date=9 September 2016}}</ref>

==Kit evolution==
{{Commons|Soviet Union national football team kits}}
[[File:Soviet Union football team 1925 (Turkey).png|thumb|The Soviet team in 1925]]
The Soviet Union traditionally wore red jerseys with white shorts and red socks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.retrofootball.eu/retroblog/history-of-the-the-ussr-national-football-team-and-retro-football-shirts/|title=History of the USSR national football team, pure Soviet football|access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>

==Home stadium==
<small>From the Soviet Union's first fixture (16 November 1924 vs. [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]]) they played their home games at various [[stadium]]s. </small>
<!--Please, do not post statistics for individual stadiums without updating the rest. -->
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Venue
!City
!
!Played
!Won
!Drawn
!Lost
!GF
!GA
!Points per game
|-
|[[Luzhniki Stadium|Central Lenin Stadium]]
|[[Moscow]]
|1956–1992
|78
|50
|18
|10
|151
|50
|{{#expr: ((50*3)+18)/78 round 2}}
|-
|[[Olimpiysky National Sports Complex|Central Stadium]]
|[[Kiev]]
|1969–1990
|12
|10
|1
|1
|27
|6
|{{#expr: ((10*3)+1)/12 round 2}}
|-
|[[Dinamo Arena|Lenin Dynamo Stadium]]
|[[Tbilisi]]
|1967–1987
|10
|6
|1
|3
|19
|9
|{{#expr: ((6*3)+1)/10 round 2}}
|-
|[[Dynamo Stadium (Moscow)|Dynamo Stadium]]
|[[Moscow]]
|1954–1971
|9
|7
|2
|0
|41
|8
|{{#expr: ((7*3)+2)/9 round 2}}
|-
|[[Lokomotiv Republican Sports Complex|Lokomotiv Stadium]]
|[[Simferopol]]
|1979–1989
|4
|4
|0
|0
|11
|1
|{{#expr: ((4*3)+0)/4 round 2}}
|-
|[[Kirov Stadium]]
|[[Leningrad]]
|1967–1984
|3
|3
|0
|0
|8
|1
|{{#expr: ((3*3)+0)/3 round 2}}
|-
|[[Hrazdan Stadium]]
|[[Yerevan]]
|1978
|2
|2
|0
|0
|12
|2
|{{#expr: ((2*3)+0)/2 round 2}}
|-
|[[Lokomotiv Stadium (Moscow)|Central Lokomotiv Stadium]]
|[[Moscow]]
|1979–1988
|2
|2
|0
|0
|5
|1
|{{#expr: ((2*3)+0)/2 round 2}}
|-
|[[Central Stadium (Volgograd)|Central Stadium]]
|[[Volgograd]]
|1977
|1
|1
|0
|0
|4
|1
|{{#expr: ((1*3)+0)/1 round 2}}
|-
|[[Pakhtakor Central Stadium]]
|[[Tashkent]]
|1975
|1
|1
|0
|0
|2
|1
|{{#expr: ((1*3)+0)/1 round 2}}
|-
|Vorovsky Stadium
|[[Moscow]]
|1924
|1
|1
|0
|0
|3
|0
|{{#expr: ((1*0)+0)/1 round 1}}
|-
|[[Chornomorets Stadium|Black Sea Shipping Stadium]]
|[[Odessa]]
|1974
|1
|0
|0
|1
|0
|1
|{{#expr: ((0*3)+0)/1 round 2}}
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan="2"|Totals !! 1924–1992 !! 123 !! 86 !! 22 !! 15 !! 281 !! 80 !! {{#expr: ((86*3)+22)/123 round 2}}
|}
:<small>Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.</small>

'''''Note:'''''
* Although never used by either the Soviet Union national football team nor [[Soviet Union Olympic football team]], [[Dinamo Stadium (Minsk)|Dinamo Stadium]] in [[Minsk]] was designated as the official stadium for the [[1980 Summer Olympics]].

==Coaching history==
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-align: center; font-size: 100%;"
|-
!Manager
!Nation
!Years
! width="50" |Played
! width="50" |Won
! width="50" |Drawn
! width="50" |Lost
! width="50" |GF
! width="50" |GA
! width="50" |Win %
! style="width:150px;"|Qualifying cycle
! style="width:150px;"|Final tour
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Boris Arkadiev]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union|1936}}
|1952
|3
|1
|1
|1
|8
|9
|{{#expr: 1/3 * 100 round 2}}
|
|[[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952(o)]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Vasily Sokolov (footballer)|Vasily Sokolov]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union|1936}}
|1954
|2
|1
|1
|0
|8
|1
|{{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|- style="background:gold;"
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Gavriil Kachalin]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1955–1958
|34
|22
|6
|6
|88
|35
|{{#expr: 22/34 * 100 round 2}}
|[[Football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|1956(o)]], [[1958 FIFA World Cup qualification|1958]], [[1960 European Nations' Cup qualifying|1960]]
|[[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956(o)]], [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Georgiy Glazkov]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1959
|1
|1
|0
|0
|3
|1
|{{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Mikhail Yakushin]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1959
|2
|2
|0
|0
|2
|0
|{{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1960 European Nations' Cup qualifying|1960]]
|
|- style="background:gold;"
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Gavriil Kachalin]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1960–1962
|22
|16
|2
|4
|49
|20
|{{#expr: 16/22 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1962 FIFA World Cup qualification|1962]]
|[[1960 European Nations' Cup|1960]], [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Nikita Simonyan]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1963
|1
|0
|0
|1
|0
|1
|{{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|- style="background:silver;"
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Konstantin Beskov]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1963–1964
|9
|4
|4
|1
|14
|7
|{{#expr: 4/9 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying|1964]]
|[[1964 European Nations' Cup|1964]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Nikita Simonyan]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1964
|1
|0
|1
|0
|2
|2
|{{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Nikolai Petrovich Morozov|Nikolai Morozov]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1964–1966
|31
|15
|9
|7
|51
|33
|{{#expr: 15/31 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1966 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1966]]
|[[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Mikhail Yakushin]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1967–1968
|28
|16
|7
|5
|51
|31
|{{#expr: 16/28 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying|1968]], 1968(o)
|[[UEFA Euro 1968|1968]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Gavriil Kachalin]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1969–1970
|18
|9
|7
|2
|29
|11
|{{#expr: 9/18 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1970]]
|[[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Valentin Nikolayev (footballer)|Valentin Nikolayev]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1970–1971
|13
|8
|5
|0
|24
|5
|{{#expr: 8/13 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying|1972]]
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Nikolay Gulyayev (footballer)|Nikolay Gulyayev]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1972
|4
|2
|1
|1
|6
|4
|{{#expr: 2/4 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying|1972]]
|
|- style="background:silver;"
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Aleksandr Ponomarev]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1972
|15
|8
|4
|3
|27
|17
|{{#expr: 8/15 * 100 round 2}}
|
|[[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972(o)]], [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[German Zonin]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1972
|3
|1
|0
|2
|1
|2
|{{#expr: 1/3 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Yevgeny Goryansky]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1973
|10
|3
|2
|5
|6
|6
|{{#expr: 3/10 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1974]]*
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Konstantin Beskov]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1974
|3
|1
|0
|2
|1
|4
|{{#expr: 1/3 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying|1976]]
|
|- bgcolor=tan
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Valeriy Lobanovsky]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1975–1976
|19
|11
|4
|4
|33
|18
|{{#expr: 11/19 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying|1976]]
|[[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976(o)]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Valentin Nikolayev (footballer)|Valentin Nikolayev]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1976
|2
|0
|1
|1
|0
|2
|{{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Nikita Simonyan]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1977–1979
|27
|18
|4
|5
|60
|22
|{{#expr: 18/27 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1978]], [[UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying|1980]]
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Konstantin Beskov]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1979–1982
|28
|17
|8
|3
|54
|19
|{{#expr: 17/28 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying|1980]], [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1982]]
|[[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Oleh Bazylevych|Oleg Bazilevich]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1979
|1
|1
|0
|0
|3
|1
|{{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Valeriy Lobanovsky]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1982–1983
|10
|6
|3
|1
|18
|6
|{{#expr: 6/10 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying|1984]]
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Eduard Malofeyev]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1984–1986
|25
|14
|3
|8
|37
|23
|{{#expr: 14/25 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1986]]
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Valeriy Lobanovsky]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1986–1987
|17
|9
|6
|2
|31
|11
|{{#expr: 9/17 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying|1988]]
|[[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Nikita Simonyan]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1988
|1
|1
|0
|0
|4
|0
|{{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|[[Yury Morozov (footballer, born 1934)|Morozov]] and [[:ru:Мосягин, Сергей Михайлович|Mosyagin]]
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1988
|4
|1
|2
|1
|5
|5
|{{#expr: 1/4 * 100 round 2}}
|
|
|- style="background:silver;"
|style="text-align: left;"|1st Coaching Staff
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1988–1990
|31
|16
|6
|9
|42
|29
|{{#expr: 16/31 * 100 round 2}}
|[[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1990]]
|[[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]], [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]
|-
|style="text-align: left;"|2nd Coaching Staff
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}}
|1990–1992
|28
|12
|11
|5
|39
|24
|{{#expr: 12/28 * 100 round 2}}
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying|1992]]
|[[UEFA Euro 1992|1992]]
|}

'''''Notes:''''' 
* The game that took place on 21 November 1973 between the national team of Chile and missing side did not go on record of [[Yevgeny Goryansky]].
* The 1980 USSR Olympic roster (coach – Beskov) was identical with the senior team that competed in qualification tournaments in 1979–1981.
* In 1985–1989 the national team competed in the annual [[Nehru Cup]] ([[India]]).
* The 1st coaching staff consisted of [[Valeriy Lobanovsky]] (leading), [[Yury Morozov (footballer, born 1934)|Yuri Morozov]] and [[:ru:Мосягин, Сергей Михайлович|Sergei Mosyagin]].
* The 2nd coaching staff consisted of [[Anatoly Byshovets]] (leading), [[Vladimir Salkov]] and [[Gadzhi Gadzhiyev]].

==Player records==
[[File:Oleg Blochin (1978).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Oleg Blokhin is Soviet Union's top goalscorer and their most capped player.]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+Most appearances<ref name="RSSSF players">{{cite web |last1=Mamrud |first1=Roberto |title=Soviet Union/CIS – Record International Players |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ussr-recintlp.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=10 September 2004 |archive-date=6 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006232020/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ussr-recintlp.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!width=40px|Rank
! style="width:160px;"|Player
!width=50px|Caps
!width=50px|Goals
! style="width:100px;"|Career
|-
|1
|align="left"|[[Oleg Blokhin]]
|112
|42
|1972–1988
|-
|2
|align="left"|[[Rinat Dasayev]] 
|91
|0
|1979–1990
|-
|3
|align="left"|[[Albert Shesternev]] 
|90
|0
|1961–1971
|-
|4
|align="left"|[[Anatoliy Demyanenko]] 
|80
|6
|1981–1990
|-
|5
|align="left"|[[Volodymyr Bezsonov]]
|79
|4
|1977–1990
|-
|6
|align="left"|[[Lev Yashin]] 
|78
|0
|1954–1967
|-
|7
|align="left"|[[Sergei Aleinikov]]{{efn|Sergei Aleinikov also made four appearances for [[Belarus national football team|Belarus]].}}
|77
|6
|1984–1991
|-
|8
|align="left"|[[Murtaz Khurtsilava]] 
|69
|6
|1965–1973
|-
|9
|align="left"|[[Oleg Protasov]]{{efn|name=Protasov|Oleg Protasov also made one appearance for [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]].}}
|68
|28
|1984–1991
|-
|10
|align="left"|[[Valeriy Voronin]]
|66
|5
|1960–1968
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+Top goalscorers<ref name="RSSSF players" />
|-
!width=40px|Rank
! style="width:160px;"|Player
!width=50px|Goals
!width=50px|Caps
!width=50px|Ratio
! style="width:100px;"|Career
|-
|1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Oleg Blokhin]] 
|42
|112
|{{#expr: 42/112 * 1 round 2}}
|1972–1988
|-
|2
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Oleg Protasov]]{{efn|name=Protasov}}
|29
|68
|{{#expr: 29/68 * 1 round 2}}
|1984–1991
|-
|3
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Valentin Kozmich Ivanov|Valentin Ivanov]] 
|26
|59
|{{#expr: 26/59 * 1 round 2}}
|1956–1965
|-
|4
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Eduard Streltsov]]
|25
|38
|{{#expr: 25/38 * 1 round 2}}
|1955–1968
|-
|5
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Viktor Kolotov]]
|22
|55
|{{#expr: 22/55 * 1 round 2}}
|1970–1978
|-
|rowspan="2"|6
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Viktor Ponedelnik]]
|20
|29
|{{#expr: 20/29 * 1 round 2}}
|1960–1966
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Igor Chislenko]] 
|20
|53
|{{#expr: 20/53 * 1 round 2}}
|1959–1968
|-
|8
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Anatoliy Banishevskiy]]
|19
|50
|{{#expr: 19/50 * 1 round 2}}
|1965–1972
|-
|9
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Anatoliy Ilyin]] 
|16
|31
|{{#expr: 16/31 * 1 round 2}}
|1952–1959
|-
|10
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Anatoliy Byshovets]] 
|15
|39
|{{#expr: 15/39 * 1 round 2}}
|1966–1972
|-
|}

{{notelist}}

==Competitive record==
===FIFA World Cup record===
{{main|Soviet Union at the FIFA World Cup}}

{{Color box|Gold|border=darkgray}} '''Champions'''&nbsp;&nbsp;{{Color box|Silver|border=darkgray}} '''Runners-up'''&nbsp;&nbsp;{{Color box|#cc9966|border=darkgray}} Third place&nbsp;&nbsp;{{Color box|#9acdff|border=darkgray}} Fourth place&nbsp;&nbsp;

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan=10|[[FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup record]]
! style="width:1%;" rowspan=17|
!colspan=6|[[FIFA World Cup qualification|Qualification]] Record
|-
!Year
!Round
!Position
!{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!Squads
!{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
|-
|{{flagicon|Uruguay}} [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]]
|rowspan=3 colspan=9|''Not a FIFA member''
| colspan="6" rowspan="3" |''Not a FIFA member''
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA|1861}} [[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]]
|-
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Brazil|1889}} [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]]
|rowspan=2 colspan=9|''did not enter''
| colspan="6" rowspan="2" |''did not enter''
|-
|{{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[1954 FIFA World Cup|1954]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]
|Quarter-final
|7th
|5
|2
|1
|2
|5
|6
|[[1958 FIFA World Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|5
|4
|0
|1
|18
|3
|-
|{{flagicon|Chile}} [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]]
|Quarter-final
|6th
|4
|2
|1
|1
|9
|7
|[[1962 FIFA World Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|4
|4
|0
|0
|11
|3
|- style="background:#9acdff;"
|{{flagicon|England}} [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]
|'''Fourth place'''
|'''4th'''
|'''6'''
|'''4'''
|'''0'''
|'''2'''
|'''10'''
|'''6'''
|[[1966 FIFA World Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|6
|5
|0
|1
|19
|6
|-
|{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]
|Quarter-final
|5th
|4
|2
|1
|1
|6
|2
|[[1970 FIFA World Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|4
|3
|1
|0
|8
|1
|-
|{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974]]
| colspan="9" rowspan="2" |''did not qualify''
|6
|3
|1
|2
|5
|4
|-
|{{flagicon|Argentina}} [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978]]
|4
|2
|0
|2
|5
|3
|-
|{{flagicon|Spain}} [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]
|Second Group stage
|7th
|5
|2
|2
|1
|7
|4
|[[1982 FIFA World Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|8
|6
|2
|0
|20
|2
|-
|{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986]]
|Round of 16
|10th
|4
|2
|1
|1
|12
|5
|[[1986 FIFA World Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|8
|4
|2
|2
|13
|8
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA|1946}} [[1990 FIFA World Cup|1990]]
|Group stage
|17th
|3
|1
|0
|2
|4
|4
|[[1990 FIFA World Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|8
|4
|3
|1
|11
|4
|-
!Total
!Fourth place
!7/14
!31
!15
!6
!10
!53
!34
!—
!53
!35
!9
!9
!110
!34
|-
|}

===UEFA European Championship record===
{{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} '''Champions'''&nbsp;&nbsp;{{Color box|silver|border=darkgray}} '''Runners-up'''&nbsp;&nbsp;{{Color box|#cc9966|border=darkgray}} Third Place&nbsp;&nbsp;{{Color box|#9acdff|border=darkgray}} Fourth Place&nbsp;&nbsp;

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan=10|[[UEFA European Championship|UEFA European Championship record]]
! rowspan="12" style="width:1%;" |
!colspan=6|[[UEFA European Championship qualifying|Qualification]] Record
|-
!Year
!Round
!Position
!{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!Squads
!{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
|- bgcolor="gold"
|{{flagicon|France}} [[1960 European Nations' Cup|1960]]
|'''[[1960 European Nations' Cup Final|Champions]]'''
|'''1st'''
|'''2'''
|'''2'''
|'''0'''
|'''0'''
|'''5'''
|'''1'''
|[[1960 European Nations' Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|2
|2
|0
|0
|4
|1
|- bgcolor="silver"
|{{flagicon|ESP|1945}} [[1964 European Nations' Cup|1964]]
|'''[[1964 European Nations' Cup Final|Runners-up]]'''
|'''2nd'''
|'''2'''
|'''1'''
|'''0'''
|'''1'''
|'''4'''
|'''2'''
|[[1964 European Nations' Cup squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|4
|2
|2
|0
|7
|3
|- style="background:#9acdff;"
|{{flagicon|ITA|1946}} [[UEFA Euro 1968|1968]]
|'''Fourth place'''
|'''4th'''
|'''2'''
|'''0'''
|'''1'''
|'''1'''
|'''0'''
|'''2'''
|[[UEFA Euro 1968 squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|8
|6
|0
|2
|19
|8
|- bgcolor="silver"
|{{flagicon|Belgium}} [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972]]
|'''[[UEFA Euro 1972 Final|Runners-up]]'''
|'''2nd'''
|'''2'''
|'''1'''
|'''0'''
|'''1'''
|'''1'''
|'''3'''
|[[UEFA Euro 1972 squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|8
|5
|3
|0
|16
|4
|-
|{{flagicon|YUG}} [[UEFA Euro 1976|1976]]
|rowspan=3 colspan=9|''Did not qualify''
|8
|4
|1
|3
|12
|10
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA|1946}} [[UEFA Euro 1980|1980]]
|6
|1
|3
|2
|7
|8
|-
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[UEFA Euro 1984|1984]]
|6
|4
|1
|1
|11
|2
|- bgcolor="silver"
|{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]]
|'''[[UEFA Euro 1988 Final|Runners-up]]'''
|'''2nd'''
|'''5'''
|'''3'''
|'''1'''
|'''1'''
|'''7'''
|'''4'''
|[[UEFA Euro 1988 squads#Soviet Union|Squad]]
|8
|5
|3
|0
|14
|3
|-
|{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[UEFA Euro 1992|1992]]
| colspan="9" |''Qualified, but dissolved and replaced by [[CIS national football team]]''
|8
|5
|3
|0
|13
|2
|-
!Total
!1 title
!5/8
!13
!7
!2
!4
!17
!12
!—
!58
!34
!16
!8
!103
!41
|}

===Summer Olympics record===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!colspan=10|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic record]]
|-
!Year
!Round
!Position
!{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!Squads
|-
|1896–1912||colspan=9|''Preceded with [[Russian Empire national football team|Russian Empire]]''
|-
|1920–1948||colspan=9|''Did not enter''
|-
|{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics|1952]]||Round 1||14th||3||1||1||1||8||9||[[Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|Squad]]
|- style="background:gold;"
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]]||'''Gold medalists'''||1st||'''5'''||'''4'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''9'''||'''2'''||[[Football at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|Squad]]
|-
|{{flagicon|ITA|1946}} [[Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics|1960]]||colspan=9 rowspan=3|''Did not qualify''
|-
|{{flagicon|JPN|1870}} [[Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics|1964]]
|-
|{{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Football at the 1968 Summer Olympics|1968]]
|- style="background:#c96;"
|{{flagicon|West Germany}} [[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972]]||'''Bronze medalists'''||'''3rd'''||'''7'''||'''5'''||'''2'''||'''0'''||'''17'''||'''6'''||[[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|Squad]]
|- style="background:#c96;"
|{{flagicon|Canada}} [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976]]||'''Bronze medalists'''||'''3rd'''||'''5'''||'''4'''||'''0'''||'''1'''||'''10'''||'''4'''||[[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|Squad]]
|-
|- style="background:#c96;"
|{{flagicon|Soviet Union}} [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1980]]||'''Bronze medalists'''||'''3rd'''||'''6'''||'''5'''||'''0'''||'''1'''||'''19'''||'''3'''||[[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|Squad]]
|-
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Football at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984]]||colspan=9|''Did not enter''
|-
|- style="background:gold;"
|{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988]]||'''Gold medalists'''||1st||'''6'''||'''5'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''14'''||'''4'''||[[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's team squads|Squad]]
|-
!Total ||Gold medalists||4/20||32||25||4||3||77||28||—
|}

==Honours==
===Major competitions===
*'''[[UEFA European Championship]]'''
** '''Champions (1):''' [[1960 European Nations' Cup|1960]]
** Runners-up (3): [[1964 European Nations' Cup|1964]], [[UEFA Euro 1972|1972]], [[UEFA Euro 1988|1988]]
*'''[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]'''
** '''Gold Medal (2):''' [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956]], [[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988]]
** Bronze Medal (3): [[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics|1972]], [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976]], [[Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics|1980]]

===Friendly===
*'''[[Nehru Cup]]'''
** '''Champions (1):''' 1985<ref>{{cite web|first=Abhishek|last=Roy|url=https://twocircles.net/2007aug14/revisiting_some_memorable_moments_nehru_cup.html|title=Revisiting some of the memorable moments of the Nehru Cup|website=TwoCircles.net|publisher=IANS|date=14 August 2007|access-date=22 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303093040/https://twocircles.net/2007aug14/revisiting_some_memorable_moments_nehru_cup.html|archive-date=3 March 2022}}</ref>

===Summary===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:30%; font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
!Competition!!{{Gold1}}!!{{Silver2}}!!{{Bronze3}}!!Total
|-
|align=left|[[FIFA World Cup]]
|0||0||0||0
|-
| align="left" |[[Olympic Games]]
|2||0||3||5
|-
| align="left" |[[UEFA European Championship]]
|1||3||0||4
|-
!Total!!3!!3!!3!!9
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Association football|Soviet Union}}
*[[Russia national football team]]
*[[CIS national football team]]
*[[Soviet Union national under-21 football team]]
*[[Soviet Union national under-18 football team]]
*[[Soviet Union national under-16 football team]]
*[[Soviet Union women's national football team]]
*[[Soviet Union national football team all-time record]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Soviet Union national association football team}}
*[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/ussr-intres.html RSSSF archive of results 1923–1991/92]
*[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ussr-recintlp.html RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers]
*[http://www.hep.lu.se/staff/smirnova//USSR.html Football in Soviet Union]
*[http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/team/profile.html?team=rus Russia Team Profile including old Soviet Union World Cup qualifications]
*[http://www.russiateam.com/ Russia (Soviet Union) National Football Team]
*[http://russiateam.com/about/index.html Team history]
* [http://ussrfootballteam.fmbb.ru/ Media Biblioteca of USSR National Football Team]
* [http://vk.com/ussrfootball Media Biblioteca of USSR National Football Team in VK]
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
  | before = Inaugural champions
  | title  = [[UEFA European Championship|European champions]]
  | years  = [[1960 UEFA European Football Championship|1960]] (first title)
  | after  = [[1964 UEFA European Football Championship|1964]] {{fb|ESP|1945}}
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Soviet Union national football team}}
{{Football in the Soviet Union}}
{{UEFA Euro winners}}
{{Summer Olympics football tournament winners}}
{{UEFA teams}}
{{Defunct national football teams}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Soviet Union squads – [[FIFA World Cup|<span style="color: White">FIFA World Cup</span>]]
|bg        = #DD0000
|fg        = White
|list1= {{Soviet Union squad 1958 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad 1962 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad 1966 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad 1982 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Soviet Union squads – [[UEFA European Championship|<span style="color: White">UEFA European Championship</span>]]
|bg        = #DD0000
|fg        = White
|list1= {{Soviet Union Squad 1960 European Nations' Cup}}
{{Soviet Union Squad 1964 European Nations' Cup}}
{{Soviet Union squad UEFA Euro 1968}}
{{Soviet Union squad UEFA Euro 1972}}
{{Soviet Union squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Soviet Union squads – [[Football at the Summer Olympics|<span style="color: White">Summer Olympics Squad</span>]]
|bg        = #DD0000
|fg        = White
|list1= {{Soviet Union football squad 1952 Summer Olympics}}
{{Soviet Union football squad 1956 Summer Olympics}}
{{Soviet Union football squad 1972 Summer Olympics}}
{{Soviet Union football squad 1976 Summer Olympics}}
{{Soviet Union football squad 1980 Summer Olympics}}
{{Soviet Union football squad 1988 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{National sports teams of the Soviet Union}}
{{Navboxes||title=Finalists|list1=
{{1958 FIFA World Cup finalists}}
{{1960 European Nations' Cup finalists}}
{{1962 FIFA World Cup finalists}}
{{1964 European Nations' Cup finalists}}
{{1966 FIFA World Cup finalists}}
{{UEFA Euro 1968 finalists}}
{{1970 FIFA World Cup finalists}}
{{UEFA Euro 1972 finalists}}
{{1982 FIFA World Cup finalists}}
{{1986 FIFA World Cup finalists}}
{{UEFA Euro 1988 finalists}}
{{1990 FIFA World Cup finalists}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soviet Union National Football Team}}
[[Category:Soviet Union national football team| ]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:1991 disestablishments in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Former national association football teams in Europe]]
[[Category:UEFA European Championship–winning countries]]
[[Category:National sports teams established in 1924]]