Country Info

• 

• Russia

• Russian Football Association

• Founded: 1912

• Federation: UEFA

• The Russian Football Federation began life as the All-Russian Football Union in 1912 but quickly became part of the Soviet Union Federation. In the eyes of FIFA, Russia is the direct descendant of the Soviet Union side which, briefly, after the break-up of the Soviet block became the CIS (Commonwealth of Independant States) in 1990. They played thier first game not long after the establisment of the Soviet Union against Turkey in 1924 and whilst playing as the USSR only failed to qualify for two World Cups. The USSR also became the inaugural winners of the European Nations' Cup (as it was known in those days) in 1960.
  They first met England in a friendly game in Moscow in 1958 and before the year was out they would play them a further three times. A 2-2 draw was the result in the 1958 World Cup group game and because the two teams couldn't be seperated on points, goal average and goals scored, they went into a playoff for the quater-finals. USSR won 1-0. Since resuming as Russia both teams have notched up on win each.