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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.