Supporters were waiting for victories. In 1970s Soviet team missed the world contest twice and in 1982 reached the finals second group stage, but let Poland go through to the following round.
Like four years earlier to qualify for the World Cup USSR had to finish first or second in their group featuring against Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland and Norway.
Way to the land of the Aztec
USSR head coach in the qualifying round was Eduard Malofeyev.
Soviet team started qualification with away defeat against Ireland – 1:0. Four FC Dynamo Kyiv performers took the field in that game – Oleh Blokhin, Volodymyr Bezsonov, Anatoliy Demianenko and Serhiy Baltacha. In the following fixture Malofeyev’s men played in a draw against Norway in Oslo – 1:1. Only Baltacha represented the White-Blues that day.
In spring USSR drew against Switzerland away at first – 2:2 (Demianenko scored one goal) and after that won the home fixture – 4:0 (Demianenko and Ihor Belanov took the field). June voyage to Denmark was a failure – 4:2 (Demianenko, Baltacha and Belanov represented Dynamo).
Autumn matches were decisive for USSR. All of them took place in Moscow. On September 25 Malofeyev’s men defeated Denmark by narrow margin – 1:0 (Demianenko, Zavarov and Blokhin featured that day), on October 16 they were victorious over Ireland – 2:0 (Demianenko, Zavarov, Bezsonov and Blokhin) and on October 30 – over Norway – 1:0 (Demianenko, Zavarov and Bezsonov). Thus Soviet players finished second in their group with 10 points.
Hot matches under Mexican sun
In September of 1985 massive earthquake happened in Mexico. Still stadiums, where the world contest was to take place, weren’t destroyed. There could be no claims to arrangers. Only the heat was a problem for players.
USSR went to Mexico under the charge of Valeriy Lobanovskyi. He took 12 FC Dynamo Kyiv performers to the World Cup after the White-Blues triumph in 1986 Cup Winners’ Cup.
In the first fixture of the World Cup Soviet players flattened Hungary – 6:0. Pavlo Yakovenko opened the score 2 minutes into the match.
Two more goals were netted by Kyivans – Ihor Belanov and Ivan Yaremchuk. In general eight Dynamo players took the field that day – Bezsonov, Kuznetsov, Rats, Yakovenko, Yevtushenko, Zavarov, Belanov, Yaremchuk and Demianenko (skipper).
In the next match USSR faced France. The only difference about the Soviet team squad comparing with the previous fixture was that Oleh Blokhin featured instead of Yevtushenko.
The game ended in a draw – 1:1. Rats scored for USSR.
In the final fixture of the group stage against Canada Lobanovskyi decided to refresh the squad. Thus Chanov, Bal, Yevtushenko, Kuznetsov and Blokhin were among first eleven. In the second half Zavarov and Belanov made substitute appearances. USSR won the game due to goals netted by Belanov and Zavarov.
Lobanovskyi’s men round of 16 match against Belgium became the most dramatic at the contest. Nine Kyivans (!) were in the starting lineup – Bal, Bezsonov, Kuznetsov, Demianenko, Yaremchuk, Yakovenko, Rats, Zavarov and Belanov. Yevtushenko took the field after the break.
Belanov sent USSR up twice, but Belgians managed to equalize. Players stated that Belgium scored the second goal when their player was offside. In extra time USSR opponents scored twice and Soviet team – only once (Belanov from the spot).
Twists of fate
Ihor Belanov became the best player of Europe and got the Ballon d’Or in 1986.
Playing street football he was spotted by FC Chornomorets Odesa coaches and invited to the reserve team. Later he joined FC Dynamo Kyiv. Belanov became twofold Soviet Top League winner, threefold USSR Cup winner, Cup Winners’ Cup triumphant and European Championship runner-up.
Today Ihor Belanov has his own football school in Odesa.
Oleh Kuznetsov is Chernihiv football trainee. He performed for local FC Desna and in 1982 joined FC Dynamo Kyiv. Till 1990 he was the White-Blues first team regular. Kuznetsov won the Soviet Top League (three times), USSR Cup (three times) and Cup Winners’ Cup with Kyivans. He also became the USSR best player five times in his career.
In 1990 he was signed by Rangers FC and became the Scottish Championship threefold winner. Today Oleh Kuznetsov is Ukraine U-17 coach.
Pavlo Yakovenko featured for Dynamo for ten years.He isthreefold Soviet Top League winner, threefold USSR Cup winner and Cup Winners’ Cup holder. He has 19 appearances for USSR national team to his name (1 goal).
After the end of his career Yakovenko became a coach. He worked for FC Uralan Elista, FC Khimki, FC Kuban Krasnodar, FC Rostov, FC Metalurh Nikopol, Borysfen-2, Ukraine U-19 and Ukraine U-21.
His son Olexandr features for Malaga CF.
Ivan Yaremchuk was invited to Dynamo by Valeriy Lobanovskyi in 1985. Ivan won the Soviet Top league and USSR Cup in his first season with the White-Blues. He performed for Kyivans till 1990 (threefold Soviet Top League winner, threefold USSR Cup winner and Cup Winners’ Cup holder).
Later Yaremchuk featured in Germany, Russia, Israel, CzechRepublic and Kazakhstan. In 1997 and 1998 Ivan played for FC Vorskla Poltava and FC Prykarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk after which he finished his career. Today Ivan Yaremchuk performs for FC Dynamo Kyiv pro veterans.
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