Product details
- ISBN 9781836802655
- Dimensions: 129 x 198mm
- Publication Date: 06 Jul 2026
- Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
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Sbornaya takes you 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. It reveals 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; and 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.
Conor Kenny’s fascination with the Soviet game began with those iconic CCCP shirts and the grainy Sportsnight broadcasts that opened a window on to a far-flung footballing world. That early intrigue evolved into a serious study of Soviet political history as he devoured countless books on the subject. The idea for this book grew out of an online discussion about the epic 1986 World Cup showdown between the USSR and Belgium.
