Sbornaya – The Mixed Fortunes of the USSR Football Team

Sbornaya takes the reader on an evocative journey through the Soviet Union's final decade – politically, economically and culturally unravelling – as seen through the lens of its football world.

The book explores the history, politics and geopolitical dimensions of the game: how it began, how it evolved and how it became the country's greatest sporting passion.

Read and discover:

• A fascinating untold history of the USSR national team and the leading club sides of the Soviet Top League
  
• How political machinations and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring disrupted a World Cup squad mid-tournament
  
• How two brilliant scientific minds came together to pioneer technological and scientific breakthroughs at a football club – with remarkable results
  
• The recurring story of the USSR's underachievement on the world stage despite its vast resources and talent

All of this unfolds under the shadow of a political system that sought to control, manipulate and micro-manage the game at every level. It is a football story like no other. Published in 2026.

Size: 128mm x 198mm – 236 pages.