Soviet team was mostly formed of FC Dynamo Kyiv performers. “Kyiv” was the synonym for USSR football for foreigners.
Mundial that took place from June 8 till July 1990 inItaly wasn’t an exception.
To qualify for the world contest Valeriy Lobanovskyi’s men had to outplay Austria, Turkey, East Germany and Iceland in qualifying round.
At this stage Soviet players lost only once. That happened as they faced East Germany away. Anyway they gained revenge in Kyiv – 3:0.
USSR defeated Turkey twice – in Simferopol (2:0) and in Istanbul (0:1).
Lobanovskyi’s men drew against Iceland both in home fixture and away – 1:1.
As for Soviet team main competitor Austria, USSR defeated them in Kyiv (2:0). Away match ended in a goalless draw.
In general nine FC Dynamo Kyiv performers featured in qualification – Oleh Protasov, Hennadiy Lytovchenko, Olexiy Mykhailychenko, Vasyl Rats, Oleh Kuznetsov, Volodymyr Bezsonov, Oleh Luzhnyi, Viktor Chanov and Anatoliy Demianenko.
Great hopes, great fiasco
At the World Cup group stage USSR faced Cameroon, Argentina and Romania.
On June 9 Soviet team featured against Romania. Five Kyivans were among first eleven: Bezsonov, Kuznetsov, Rats, Lytovchenko and Protasov.
In the second half Ivan Yaremchuk made a substitute appearance. Romania won the game – 2:0.
Four days later Lobanovskyi’s men faced Argentina.
Three Kyivans were in USSR starting lineup – Bezsonov, Kuznetsov and Protasov.
Argentina won by two goals to nil.
On June 18 USSR performed against Cameroon. Four Dynamo representatives took the field: Kuznetsov, Demianenko, Lytovchenko and Protasov.
The latter opened the score in that match. Eventually Soviet team won by the score of 4:0, but that wasn’t enough to go through to the next stage.
Twists of fate
After the Mundial Volodymyr Bezsonov and his teammate Viktor Chanov joined Maccabi Haifa FC. On January 14 1991 Volodymyr became FC Dynamo Kyiv Academy coach.
Later he worked for CSCA Kyiv, Turkmenistan national team, FC Kharkiv and FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
Oleh Kuznetsov also left Dynamo in 1990 as he was signed by Rangers FC.
In 1994/95 season he joined Maccabi Haifa FC. In 1995 Oleh returned to Ukraine. Kuznetsov made 11 appearances for CSCA Borysfen, after which finished his career.
They often called Anatoliy Demianenko the player “with two hearts” for his indefatigability.
He left Dynamo in 1991 and joined FC Magdeburg. Later he featured for RTS Widzew Łódź.
In 1993 Demianenko started coaching. At first he worked as assistant coach for CSCA-Borysfen and FC Dynamo Kyiv.
In 2005 Anatoliy took charge of the White-Blues. He left the team on September 20 2007. He won the UPL, Ukrainian Cup (twice) and Ukrainian Super Cup with Dynamo and became the best coach of Ukraine (2007).
After that Demianenko worked as Neftchi Baku PFK, Nasaf Quarshi FK and FC Volyn Lutsk head coach.
Another 1990 World Cup participant Vasyl Rats left Kyiv in 1990.
In 1991 he faced serious health problems, but in summer of the same year he made his debut for Ferencvárosi TC.
In 2007 Rats got Pro license and became FC Dynamo Kyiv assistant coach.
Hennadiy Lytovchenko moved to Greece in 1990, where he featured for Olympiacos FC for three years.
In 1996 he became a coach. Lytovchenko was in charge of FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih, FC Metalist Kharkiv, FC Kharkiv and Dynamo-2.
Halfback Ivan Yaremchuk also left the White-Bleus in 1990. After that he featured for different European clubs.
In 1997 and 1998 Ivan played for FC Vorskla Poltava and FC Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk and eventually he finished his career.
Oleh Protasov performed for different Greek clubs for almost ten years. He started coaching in Olympiacos FC. Later he returned to Ukraine and was in charge of FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk for two years.
Goalkeeper Viktor Chanov made only one appearance at the World Cup – against Canada in 1986.
After the Mundial in Italy he moved to Israel, where he played for four years. In 1994 Chanov returned to Kyiv and spent one season featuring for CSCA-Borysfen. After that he finished his career.
Oleh Luzhnyi missed the World Cup final stage because of injury.
In 1999 he was signed by Arsenal London FC. Oleh made 75 appearances for the Gunners.
After that he featured for Wolverhampton Wanderers FC for one season.
Luzhnyi also made 52 appearances for Ukraine national team.
As a coach he worked for FC Dynamo Kyiv from 2006 till 2012. Twice he became the caretaker manager of the club. He also was in charge of SC Tavria Simferopol in 2012/13 season.
Olexiy Mykhailychenko also didn’t take part in 1990 World Cup as he was injured.
After the contest he joined UC Sampdoria. He scored tree goals for this team and won Serie A. The following season Olexiy was signed by Rangers FC. He made 110 appearances for Scottish side within four seasons and scored 20 goals.
From 2002 till 2004 Mykhailychenko was FC Dynamo Kyiv head coach. Later he was in charge of Ukraine U-21 and reached the European Championship final with the Yellow-Blues.
From 2008 till 2009 he worked for Ukraine national team. Today Olexiy Mykhailychenko is Dynamo sporting director.
Akhrik Tsveiba was another Dynamo performer, who didn’t feature within the 1990 World Cup qualification. Still Valeriy Lobanovskyi counted on him very often.
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