The last great days of the Soviet Union
In 1988, the Soviet Union made it to the final of Euro '88
Sporting Witness · BBC World Service
June 15, 202410m 55s
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (open.live.bbc.co.uk) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In 1988, the Soviet Union made it to the final of the European Championships where they faced competition favourites, the Netherlands.
It proved to be the side’s last great achievement before the breakup of the union.
Soviet defender Sergei Baltacha remembers coming on as a substitute to mark the world’s best player, Marco van Basten.
He speaks to Tim Mansel.
(Photo: Sergei Baltacha tackling Holland's Ruud Gullit. Credit: Reuters)