CCCP 1970's Retro Voetbal Jack

With their consistently strong performances at major international tournaments, the Soviet Union established themselves as one of the world game's major powers between 1966 and 1972, the year they finished runners-up to West Germany in the European Nations Cup.

And then it all collapsed. Political difficulties cost them a potential place at the 1974 tournament after a refusal to play Chile in a play-off, but it was purely down to on-field inadequacies that meant the Soviets failed to qualify for the 1978 World Cup and the European Championships of 1976 and 1980.