The 1987–88 period was a high point for the Soviet Union national team. Managed by Valeriy Lobanovskyi, the squad blended tactical discipline with flair, heavily influenced by Dynamo Kyiv players. At UEFA Euro 1988, the USSR impressed, topping their group after defeating the Netherlands 1–0, England 3–1, and drawing with Ireland. In the semi-final, they beat Italy 2–0, with goals from Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko and Oleg Protasov. In the final, they met the Netherlands again but lost 2–0, highlighted by Marco van Basten’s iconic volley. With stars like Rinat Dasayev, Vasyl Rats, and Igor Belanov, this squad is remembered as one of the USSR’s finest.
