CSKA and Zenith, The Russians victories in Europe

If you hear the Russian football team maybe you cannot compare with the strongest teams in the world such as Brazil, Argentina, Spain or Holland. Well, the level is not similar with them but many football fans mention that the level is on progress.

Football is really popular in the main former Soviet country but this is not the most popular. Ice Hockey is still taking that. The performances of Russian Ice Hockey national team become the source of their popularity. This team is one of the strongest team in the world and always be the world champion.

Beside ice hockey, tennis is considered the most popular. Many tennis stars are from here such as Maria Sharapova and Russian tennis team by many people in the world is the one of the strongest team in the world.

So, where is football? Where is the achievement?

After separated from Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian football team could not show the best performance yet until this time. This team can only reached the European championship semifinal in 2008 but for many football fans this action was felt enough. However after this “achievement” they failed to the 2010 World Cup.

When Russia were part of Soviet Union the only one achievement they had, became the winner of European championship in 1960. But that was only a story in a past.

This situation made the modern Russian leader, Vladimir Putin not enthusiast but when the Russian show the progressive performances in the most popular sport, Putin shows his enthusiasm slowly. The successes in 2008 European championship and of course the host 2018 World Cup were the indicators.

Not only national team the Russian clubs show it too. It is begun by CSKA Moscow which became the winner of UEFA Cup in 2004-2005 seasons and runner-up of UEFA Super cup in the next season. This is the first title for Russian in Europe. This achievement was continued by Zenith St. Petersburg. They gain the success when became the winner of UEFA Cup in 2007-2008 seasons and be the UEFA Super Cup for the first time and of course for the Russian club. In UEFA Super Cup they success defeated Manchester United.

They achievement are contrast with Spartak Moscow, the strongest and best team in Russia which always shows in European championship but never gain the victory.