History of international football in Russia facts for kids

The history of Russia's national football team is quite interesting! It goes back to the early 1900s, starting with the Russian Empire team. Over the years, as the country changed, so did its national football team. It went from the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union, then briefly to the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), and finally to the Russia we know today. Each team had its own unique story, players, and achievements on the world stage.

The Russian Empire Football Team

The very first national football team for Russia was called the Russian Empire national football team. This team was formed in 1910. They played a total of 16 matches, with 8 of them being official games.

First and Last Games

Their first unofficial match was a 5-4 win against Bohemia (which is now part of the Czech Republic) on October 16, 1910. Their first official game was a 2-1 loss to Finland. This match happened at the 1912 Summer Olympics on June 30, 1912. The team's last game was a 1-1 tie against Norway on July 12, 1914.

Biggest Defeat

The Russian Empire team faced a very tough loss at the 1912 Summer Olympics. They lost 16-0 to Germany in a special "consolation tournament" game. This big defeat happened on July 1, 1912, just one day after their loss to Finland. The team stopped playing after World War I began.

The Soviet Union Football Team

After the Russian Empire team, the Soviet Union national football team took its place. This new team was formed in 1922. This was the same year the Soviet Union was created after the Russian Revolution.

Early Days and Achievements

The Soviet Union team played its first game on November 16, 1924. They won that match 3-0 against Turkey. In July 1960, the Soviet Union team reached the very top of the FIFA World Rankings. They won a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics. They also won the 1960 UEFA European Championship and finished 4th at the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

Key Players and Stadiums

Most of their games were played at the Central Lenin Stadium in Moscow. Oleg Blokhin played the most games for the Soviet Union (112 games) and scored the most goals (42 goals). Three players from the Soviet Union won the Ballon D'Or, which is a famous award for the best football player. These players were Lev Yashin, Oleg Blokhin, and Igor Belanov.

The CIS Football Team

After the Soviet Union broke up, a new team was formed called the CIS national football team. CIS stands for the Commonwealth of Independent States. This team took the Soviet Union's place in the UEFA Euro 1992 tournament.

Tournament Performance

The CIS team finished last in their group at Euro 1992. They had two ties, one against the Netherlands and another against Germany. They lost their other game against Scotland.

The Russia Football Team

The current Russia national football team is the team that followed the CIS team. Their first game as the Russia national team was a 2-0 win against Mexico. This match was played on August 16, 1992.

Home Stadiums and Managers

The Russia team plays most of its games in Moscow. Their main stadiums include the Luzhniki Stadium (33 games), the Lokomotiv Stadium (28 games), and the Central Dynamo Stadium (18 games). Many famous coaches have managed the team, including Oleg Romantsev, Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat, and Fabio Capello.

Recent Achievements

The Russia national team has had some good results in major tournaments. They reached the Semi-Finals of UEFA Euro 2008. They also made it to the Quarter-Finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which they hosted.