1997 in Russian football

1997 was the sixth season Russia held its own national football competition since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Club competitions
FC Spartak Moscow won the title for the fifth time. This was the last season fourth tier of the Russian football was a professional Russian Third League.

For more details, see:
 * 1997 Russian Top League
 * 1997 Russian First League
 * 1997 Russian Second League
 * 1997 Russian Third League

Cup competitions
The fifth edition of the Russian Cup, 1996–97 Russian Cup was won by FC Lokomotiv Moscow, who beat FC Dynamo Moscow in the finals with a score of 2–0.

Early stages of the 1997–98 Russian Cup were played later in the year.

1996–97 UEFA Champions League, 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, 1996–97 UEFA Cup
Russian teams were eliminated in 1996.

1997–98 UEFA Champions League
FC Spartak Moscow were eliminated in the second qualifying round and went on to the UEFA Cup.


 * August 13, 1997 / Second qualifying round, First leg / 1. FC Košice – FC Spartak Moscow 2-1 (Kožlej ⚽ 15' Kozák ⚽ 40' (pen.) – Dmitriev ⚽ 37') / Košice, Lokomotíva Stadium / Attendance: 12,600
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich, Khlestov, Tsymbalar (captain), Mamedov (Evseev, 77), Ananko, Bakharev (Melyoshin, 45), Alenichev, Titov, Dmitriev (Robson, 81), Tikhonov.


 * August 27, 1997 / Second qualifying round, Return leg / FC Spartak Moscow – 1. FC Košice 0-0 / Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 20,000
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich, Khlestov, Tsymbalar (captain), Ananko (Golovskoy, 46), Evseev, Robson (Lutovinov, 75), Alenichev, Titov, Dmitriev (Kechinov, 32), Tikhonov.

1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
FC Lokomotiv Moscow qualified for the quarterfinals stage that was played in 1998.


 * September 18, 1997 / First round, first leg / Belshina Bobruisk – FC Lokomotiv Moscow (Hlebasolaw ⚽ 14' (pen.) – Loskov ⚽ 49' Borodyuk ⚽ 72') / Minsk, Dinamo Stadium / Attendance: 4,000
 * FC Lokomotiv Moscow: Podshivalov, Solomatin, Drozdov, Kharlachyov, Arifullin, Chugainov (captain), Smirnov, Borodyuk, Janashia (Bulykin, 79), Loskov, Cherevchenko.


 * October 2, 1997 / First round, return leg / FC Lokomotiv Moscow – FC Belshina Bobruisk 3–0 (Maminov ⚽ 23' Kharlachyov ⚽ 41' Loskov ⚽ 74') / Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 1,500
 * FC Lokomotiv Moscow: Bidzhiyev, Solomatin, Drozdov, Kharlachyov, Arifullin, Chugainov (captain), Smirnov (Sarkisyan, 64), Cherevchenko (Pashinin, 75), Janashia (Veselov, 69), Loskov, Maminov.


 * October 23, 1997 / Second round, first leg / FC Lokomotiv Moscow – Kocaelispor 2–1 (Kharlachyov ⚽ 32' Janashia ⚽ 84' – Turan ⚽ 73') / Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 3,500
 * FC Lokomotiv Moscow: Bidzhiyev, Solomatin, Drozdov (Pashinin, 89), Kharlachyov, Cherevchenko, Chugainov (captain), Maminov (Sarkisyan, 81), Gurenko, Janashia, Loskov, Veselov (Smirnov, 46).


 * November 6, 1997 / Second round, return leg / Kocaelispor – FC Lokomotiv Moscow 0–0 / İzmit, Ismet Pasa Stadium / Attendance: 15,000.
 * FC Lokomotiv Moscow: Bidzhiyev, Solomatin, Drozdov, Kharlachyov, Arifullin, Chugainov (captain), Smirnov (Sarkisyan, 82), Gurenko, Pashinin, Loskov, Veselov (Maminov, 73).

1997–98 UEFA Cup
FC Spartak Moscow qualified for the quarterfinals stage that was played in 1998. FC Rotor Volgograd reached the second round. FC Alania Vladikavkaz went out in the first round.


 * August 12, 1997 / Second qualifying round, First leg / FC Alania Vladikavkaz – FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 2-1 (Žutautas ⚽ 18' Ashvetia ⚽ 58' – Palyanytsya ⚽ 8') / Vladikavkaz, Republican Spartak Stadium / Attendance: 32,000
 * FC Alania Vladikavkaz: Kramarenko, Pagayev, Timofeev, Žutautas, Agayev (Ashvetia, 32), Tsveiba, Tedeyev (captain), Dzhioyev, Yanovskiy, Kobiashvili, Kanishchev, Gakhokidze.


 * August 12, 1997 / Second qualifying round, First leg / FC Rotor Volgograd – Odra Wodzisław 2-0 (Niederhaus ⚽ 72' Veretennikov ⚽ 86') / Volgograd, Central Stadium / Attendance: 25,000
 * FC Rotor Volgograd: Zakharchuk, Shmarko, Gerashchenko (captain) (Olenikov, 46), Tishchenko (Krivov, 27), Berketov, Borzenkov, Zubko (Niederhaus, 52), Zernov, Veretennikov, Yesipov, Abramov.


 * August 26, 1997 / Second qualifying round, Return leg / FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk – FC Alania Vladikavkaz 1-4 (Sharan ⚽ 24' – Gakhokidze ⚽ 2' ⚽ 30' Yanovskiy ⚽ 33' Kobiashvili ⚽ 45') / Dnipropetrovsk, Stadium Meteor / Attendance: 8,000
 * FC Alania Vladikavkaz: Khapov, Pagayev, Avdeev (Agayev, 64), Tskhadadze, Dzhioyev (captain) (Kornienko, 75), Tsveiba, Žutautas, Yanovskiy, Kobiashvili (Datdeyev, 84), Kanishchev, Gakhokidze.


 * August 26, 1997 / Second qualifying round, Return leg / Odra Wodzisław – FC Rotor Volgograd (Staniek ⚽ 35' Zagórski ⚽ 45' Brzoza ⚽ 45' – Berketov ⚽ 5' Abramov ⚽ 50' sent off: 52', 58' Veretennikov ⚽ 68' ⚽ 72') / Wodzisław Śląski, MOSiR Stadium / Attendance: 8,000
 * FC Rotor Volgograd: Zakharchuk, Shmarko, Veretennikov, Niederhaus (Burlachenko, 46), Yesipov, Borzenkov, Gerashchenko (captain), Zubko (Zernov, 46), Berketov, Abramov, Olenikov (Krivov, 75).


 * September 16, 1997 / First round, First leg / MTK Hungária FC – FC Alania Vladikavkaz 3-0 (Illés ⚽ 54' Preisinger ⚽ 71' Lörincz ⚽ 87' (pen.) – Pagayev sent off: 42', 88') / Budapest, Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium / Attendance: 3,000
 * FC Alania Vladikavkaz: Khapov, Pagayev, Avdeev (Datdeyev, 57), Kornienko, Dzhioyev (captain), Tsveiba, Žutautas, Yanovskiy, Kobiashvili, Kanishchev (Ashvetia, 76), Gakhokidze.


 * September 16, 1997 / First round, First leg / FC Rotor Volgograd – Örebro SK 2-0 (Berketov ⚽ 45' Veretennikov ⚽ 64') / Volgograd, Central Stadium / Attendance: 23,000
 * FC Rotor Volgograd: Zakharchuk, Shmarko, Veretennikov, Zubko (Tishchenko, 64), Yesipov (Krivov, 81), Borzenkov, Gerashchenko (captain), Burlachenko, Berketov, Zhunenko (Zernov, 46), Olenikov.


 * September 16, 1997 / First round, First leg / FC Sion – FC Spartak Moscow 0-1 (Kechinov ⚽ 74' Khlestov sent off: 36', 86') / Sion, Stade Tourbillon / Attendance: 6,000
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich (captain), Khlestov, Golovskoy, Ananko, Lutovinov (Buznikin, 66), Robson (Konovalov, 59), Alenichev, Bakharev, Kechinov (Shirko, 75), Tikhonov.


 * September 30, 1997 / First round, Return leg / FC Alania Vladikavkaz – MTK Hungária FC 1-1 (Moroz ⚽ 16' – Halmai ⚽ 86') / Vladikavkaz, Republican Spartak Stadium / Attendance: 31,000
 * FC Alania Vladikavkaz: Khapov, Gakhokidze, Avdeev (Bazayev, 75), Kornienko, Dzhioyev (captain), Moroz, Žutautas, Yanovskiy, Datdeyev (Agayev, 46), Kanishchev, Ashvetia (Sikoyev, 55).


 * September 30, 1997 / First round, Return leg / Örebro SK – FC Rotor Volgograd 1-4 (E. Karlsson ⚽ 85' – Niederhaus ⚽ 25' ⚽ 67' Zernov ⚽ 41' Veretennikov ⚽ 72') / Örebro, Eyravallen / Attendance: 8,000
 * FC Rotor Volgograd: Zakharchuk, Shmarko, Veretennikov, Niederhaus (Mysin, 78), Smirnov, Zernov (Zubko, 68), Gerashchenko (captain), Burlachenko, Berketov, Abramov, Olenikov (Matiola, 80).


 * September 30, 1997 / First round, Return leg / FC Spartak Moscow – FC Sion 2-2 (Shirko ⚽ 19' Alenichev ⚽ 54' – Lota ⚽ 4' ⚽ 73') / Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 12,000
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich (captain), Ananko, Golovskoy, Romaschenko, Shirko, Buznikin (Robson, 68), Alenichev, Titov, Kechinov, Tikhonov.

The goal in the stadium was measured before the game and turned out to be 2.46 meters high instead of regulation 2.44. The referee decided to play the game anyway. After FC Sion's protest, UEFA decided to replay the return leg.


 * October 15, 1997 / First round, Return leg / FC Spartak Moscow – FC Sion 5-1 (Buznikin ⚽ 5' Titov ⚽ 34' Kechinov ⚽ 42' Tikhonov ⚽ 60' Romaschenko ⚽ 83' – Camadini ⚽ 66') / Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 24,000
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich (captain), Ananko (Golovskoy, 84), Evseev, Romaschenko, Shirko (Tsymbalar, 46), Buznikin (Melyoshin, 65), Alenichev, Titov, Kechinov, Tikhonov.


 * October 21, 1997 / Second round, First leg / FC Rotor Volgograd – S.S. Lazio 0-0 / Volgograd, Central Stadium / Attendance: 25,000
 * FC Rotor Volgograd: Zakharchuk, Shmarko, Veretennikov, Niederhaus, Yesipov, Zernov (Zubko, 76), Gerashchenko (captain), Burlachenko (Krivov, 63), Berketov, Abramov (Zhunenko, 81), Olenikov.


 * October 21, 1997 / Second round, First leg / FC Spartak Moscow – Real Valladolid 2-0 (Tikhonov ⚽ 60' Titov ⚽ 84') / Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 10,000
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich (captain), Golovskoy, Evseev, Romaschenko, Shirko (Lutovinov, 54), Buznikin (Bakharev, 61), Alenichev, Titov, Kechinov, Tikhonov.


 * November 4, 1997 / Second round, Return leg / S.S. Lazio – FC Rotor Volgograd 3-0 (Casiraghi ⚽ 5' Mancini ⚽ 35' Signori ⚽ 89') / Rome, Stadio Olimpico / Attendance: 40,000
 * FC Rotor Volgograd: Zakharchuk, Shmarko, Veretennikov (captain), Niederhaus, Yesipov, Zernov (Zubko, 46), Krivov (Burlachenko, 67), Abramov, Berketov, Zhunenko, Olenikov.


 * November 4, 1997 / Real Valladolid – FC Spartak Moscow 1-2 (Juan Carlos ⚽ 88' – Shirko ⚽ 64' ⚽ 90') / Valladolid, Estadio José Zorrilla / Attendance: 16,700
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich (captain), Ananko, Evseev, Romaschenko, Shirko, Robson (Bakharev, 46), Alenichev, Titov (Lutovinov, 79), Kechinov (Melyoshin, 68), Tikhonov.


 * November 25, 1997 / Third round, First leg / Karlsruher SC – FC Spartak Moscow 0-0 (Golovskoy sent off: 24', 89' / Karlsruhe, Wildparkstadion / Attendance: 15,000
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich (captain), Ananko, Evseev, Romaschenko, Shirko, Bakharev (Melyoshin, 45), Golovskoy, Titov, Kechinov, Tikhonov.


 * December 9, 1997 / Third round, Return leg / FC Spartak Moscow – Karlsruher SC 1-0 (Shirko ⚽ 109') / Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 10,000
 * FC Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Gorlukovich (captain), Ananko, Khlestov, Romaschenko, Shirko, Buznikin (Robson, 46), Alenichev, Titov, Kechinov (Melyoshin, 22), Tikhonov.

1997 UEFA Intertoto Cup
FC Dynamo Moscow, FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow and FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod all won their groups, but were knocked out in the semi-finals.


 * June 22, 1997 / Group 12, Day 1 / FC Merani-91 Tbilisi – FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow 0-2 (Gashkin ⚽ 5' Mashkarin ⚽ 54') / Tbilisi, Boris Paichadze Stadium / Attendance: 20,000
 * FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow: Vorobyov, Kornaukhov (Arlowski, 46), Khokhlov, Mashkarin (captain), Makhmutov (Burchenkov, 46), Bushmanov, Avakov (Jankauskas, 71), Kamoltsev, Gashkin, Ražanauskas, Preikšaitis.


 * June 28, 1997 / Group 11, Day 2 / FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod – FK Proleter Zrenjanin 1-0 (Bystrov ⚽ 90') / Nizhny Novgorod, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 10,860
 * FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod: Satsunkevich, Baltušnikas, Nizhegorodov, Kurayev, Lipko, Kazakov (captain) (Kashentsev, 36), Bystrov, Zubkov, Rapeika, Durnev (Chudin, 54; Perednya, 75), Mukhamadiev.


 * June 29, 1997 / Group 5, Day 2 / FC Dynamo Moscow – Panachaiki 2–1 (Shtanyuk ⚽ 8', Kutsenko ⚽ 43' – Klejch ⚽ 11') / Moscow, Dynamo Stadium / Attendance: 3,500
 * FC Dynamo Moscow: Tiapushkin, Tochilin (Zharinov, 68), Kovtun, Ostrovskiy (Korablyov, 75), Shtanyuk, Kulchiy, Grishin, Skokov (Gusev, 78), Kutsenko, Nekrasov, Teryokhin.


 * July 5, 1997 / Group 5, Day 3 / B36 Tórshavn – FC Dynamo Moscow 0–1 (Ostrovskiy ⚽ 78') / Toftir, Svangaskarð / Attendance: 500
 * FC Dynamo Moscow: Tiapushkin, Tochilin, Kovtun, Ostrovskiy, Shtanyuk, Kulchiy, Grishin (Tishkov, 7), Skokov, Kutsenko, Nekrasov, Gusev (Kulyov, 57).


 * July 5, 1997 / Group 11, Day 3 / Publikum – FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod 1-2 (Sivko ⚽ 45' – Duyun ⚽ 86' Ionanidze ⚽ 90') / Celje, Skalna Klet / Attendance: 2,000
 * FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod: Satsunkevich, Baltušnikas, Nizhegorodov (Kashentsev, 65), Kurayev (captain), Lipko, Ionanidze, Bystrov, Zubkov (Duyun, 50), Rapeika, Durnev, Mukhamadiev (Dzhubanov, 60).


 * July 5, 1997 / Group 12, Day 3 / FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow – Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. 4-1 (Jankauskas ⚽ 10' Kamoltsev ⚽ 54' Khokhlov ⚽ 65' Preikšaitis ⚽ 68' – Hantzidis ⚽ 15') / Moscow, Torpedo Stadium / Attendance: 2,500
 * FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow: Vorobyov, Arlowski, Khokhlov, Mashkarin (captain), Eguavoen, Bushmanov, Ražanauskas (Kamoltsev, 46), Preikšaitis, Burchenkov (Gashkin, 65), Jankauskas, Carlos Alberto (Makhmutov, 73).


 * July 12, 1997 / Group 5, Day 4 / FC Dynamo Moscow – Racing Genk 3–2 (Teryokhin ⚽ 22' Kulchiy ⚽ 37' Korablyov ⚽ 44' – Oularé ⚽ 27' Keita ⚽ 48') / Moscow, Dynamo Stadium / Attendance: 3,000
 * FC Dynamo Moscow: Tiapushkin, Tochilin (Gusev, 38), Kovtun, Ostrovskiy, Korablyov, Kobelev (captain), Zharinov, Kutsenko (Kulyov, 61), Kulchiy, Nekrasov, Teryokhin.


 * July 12, 1997 / Group 11, Day 4 / FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod – Antalyaspor 1-0 (Durnev ⚽ 13') / Nizhny Novgorod, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 10,000
 * FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod: Satsunkevich, Baltušnikas, Nizhegorodov, Kurayev (captain), Lipko, Ionanidze (Dzhubanov, 40), Bystrov, Zubkov, Rapeika, Durnev (Duyun, 65), Mukhamadiev (Kashentsev, 63).


 * July 12, 1997 / Group 12, Day 4 / Floriana F.C. – FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow 0-1 (Botsiyev ⚽ 44') / Valletta, Victor Tedesco Stadium / Attendance: 1,000
 * FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow: Vorobyov, Makhmutov, Kornaukhov, Samaroni, Burchenkov (Agashkov, 90), Guzhov (Carlos Alberto, 33), Ražanauskas, Preikšaitis (Gashkin, 46), Koshelyuk, Botsiyev, Kamoltsev (captain).


 * July 19, 1997 / Group 5, Day 5 / Stabæk – FC Dynamo Moscow 1–1 (Skistad ⚽ 77' – Kosolapov ⚽ 46') / Bærum, Nadderud stadion / Attendance: 2,000
 * FC Dynamo Moscow: Tiapushkin, Korablyov, Kozlov, Tochilin, Povorov, Zharinov, Likhobabenko, Kulyov, Kutsenko (Gordeyev, 72), Gusev (Sherstnyov, 77), Kosolapov (Artyomov, 65).


 * July 19, 1997 / Group 11, Day 5 / Maccabi Haifa F.C. – FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod 0-4 (Perednya ⚽ 9' Mordvinov ⚽ 20' Ionanidze ⚽ 32' Mukhamadiev ⚽ 63') / Haifa, Kiryat Eliezer Stadium / Attendance: 200
 * FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod: Mikhailov, Zubkov, Oskolkov, Rapeika, Chudin, Kazakov (captain) (Ignatyev, 46), Kashentsev, Mordvinov (Mukhamadiev, 46), Dzhubanov, Perednya, Ionanidze.


 * July 19, 1997 / Group 12, Day 5 / FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow – SV Ried 2-0 (Carlos Alberto ⚽ 8' (pen.) Gashkin ⚽ 13') / Moscow, Torpedo Stadium / Attendance: 1,500
 * FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow: Vorobyov, Arlowski (Alomerović, 32), Khokhlov, Mashkarin (captain), Burchenkov, Bushmanov, Preikšaitis, Kamoltsev, Gashkin (Botsiyev, 46), Koshelyuk, Carlos Alberto (Samaroni, 66).


 * July 26, 1997 / Semi-finals, First leg / FC Dynamo Moscow – MSV Duisburg 2–2 (Teryokhin ⚽ 18' ⚽ 38' – Osthoff ⚽ 60' Salou ⚽ 64') / Moscow, Dynamo Stadium / Attendance: 5,000
 * FC Dynamo Moscow: Tiapushkin, Kutsenko (Kosolapov, 75), Kovtun, Ostrovskiy, Shtanyuk, Kobelev (captain), Zharinov (Tochilin, 66), Skokov, Kulchiy, Nekrasov, Teryokhin.


 * July 26, 1997 / Semi-finals, First leg / FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod – Halmstads BK 0-0 / Nizhny Novgorod, Lokomotiv Stadium / Attendance: 6,900
 * FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod: Mikhailov, Baltušnikas, Oskolkov (Zubkov, 75), Duyun, Vlasov, Chudin, Dzhubanov, Kashentsev, Mordvinov, Perednya (Bystrov, 46), Ionanidze (Rapeika, 46).


 * July 26, 1997 / Semi-finals, First leg / AJ Auxerre – FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow 3-0 (Goma ⚽ 44' Diomède ⚽ 55' Marlet ⚽ 65') / Auxerre, Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps / Attendance: 5,000
 * FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow: Vorobyov, Arlowski (Burchenkov, 83), Khokhlov, Mashkarin (captain), Eguavoen, Alomerović, Kornaukhov, Kamoltsev (Carlos Alberto, 45), Botsiyev, Koshelyuk, Samaroni (Preikšaitis, 76).


 * July 30, 1997 / Semi-finals, Return leg / MSV Duisburg – FC Dynamo Moscow 3–1 (Wohlert ⚽ 10' ⚽ 12' Gill ⚽ 89' (pen.) – Kobelev ⚽ 37' Kovtun sent off: 54', 60' Teryokhin sent off: 82', 82') / Duisburg, Wedaustadion / Attendance: 8,650
 * FC Dynamo Moscow: Tiapushkin, Tochilin (Gusev, 56), Kovtun, Ostrovskiy, Shtanyuk, Kobelev (captain), Kutsenko (Kosolapov, 60), Skokov, Kulchiy, Nekrasov, Teryokhin.


 * July 30, 1997 / Semi-finals, Return leg / Halmstads BK – FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod 1-0 (F. Andersson ⚽ 24') / Halmstad, Örjans Vall / Attendance: 2,329
 * FC Lokomotiv Nizhny Novgorod: Satsunkevich, Nizhegorodov, Chudin, Duyun, Lipko, Rapeika, Dzhubanov, Zubkov, Ionanidze, Perednya, Mukhamadiev.


 * July 30, 1997 / Semi-finals, Return leg / FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow – AJ Auxerre 4-1 (Gashkin ⚽ 23' Mashkarin ⚽ 36' Samaroni ⚽ 51' Carlos Alberto ⚽ 88' (pen.) – Guivarc'h ⚽ 43') / Moscow, Eduard Streltsov Stadium / Attendance: 3,000
 * FC Torpedo-Luzhniki Moscow: Vorobyov, Arlowski, Khokhlov, Mashkarin (captain), Alomerović (Eguavoen, 71), Bushmanov, Preikšaitis (Botsiyev, 46), Kamoltsev (Carlos Alberto, 69), Gashkin, Koshelyuk, Samaroni.

National team
Russia national football team came second in their qualification group for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. They lost to Italy in the playoffs for the second-placed teams and did not qualify for the World Cup. Boris Ignatyev was the head coach, with Yuri Syomin assisting throughout and Leonid Pakhomov assisting from the third game on.


 * February 7, 1997 / Carlsberg Cup / Yugoslavia – Russia 1-1 (Drobnjak ⚽ 40' Kocić sent off: 90' – Popov ⚽ 62') / Hong Kong, Hong Kong Stadium / Attendance: 25,430
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Khlestov (Bokov, 78), Tsveiba, Chugainov, Popov, Kharlachyov, Veretennikov (Alenichev, 46), Yanovskiy, Tikhonov (captain), Simutenkov, Kanishchev (Kechinov, 88).


 * February 10, 1997 / Carlsberg Cup / Switzerland – Russia 1-2 (Thüler ⚽ 80' – Simutenkov ⚽ 23' ⚽ 26') / Hong Kong, Hong Kong Stadium / Attendance: 20,167
 * Russia: Cherchesov (captain), Bokov, Chugainov, Tsveiba, Popov, Alenichev, Tsymbalar (Veretennikov, 88), Yanovskiy, Kharlachyov, Gerasimenko (Kanishchev, 77), Simutenkov.


 * March 12, 1997 / Friendly / Yugoslavia – Russia 0-0 / Belgrade, Stadion Crvena Zvezda / Attendance: 32,000
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Khlestov, Chugainov, Popov (Kharlachyov, 64), Tetradze, Karpin, Onopko (captain), Kanchelskis (Alenichev, 74), Beschastnykh (Tsveiba, 46; Bokov, 85), Kolyvanov, Simutenkov (Gerasimenko, 86).


 * March 29, 1997 / 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier / Cyprus – Russia 1-1 (Gogić ⚽ 31' – Simutenkov ⚽ 33') / Paralimni, Paralimni Stadium / Attendance: 3,199
 * Russia: Cherchesov, Popov, Chugainov, Tsymbalar (Gerasimenko, 69), Tetradze, Karpin, Onopko (captain), Kanchelskis, Mostovoi, Kolyvanov, Simutenkov.


 * April 30, 1997 / 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier / Russia – Luxembourg 3-0 (Kechinov ⚽ 20' Grishin ⚽ 55' Simutenkov ⚽ 57' – Strasser sent off: 56') / Moscow, Dynamo Stadium / Attendance: 10,000
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Radimov (Zubko, 68), Kovtun, Kosolapov, Tetradze (Popov, 26), Chugainov, Onopko (captain), Alenichev, Beschastnykh (Grishin, 46), Kechinov, Simutenkov.


 * June 8, 1997 / 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier / Russia – Israel 2-0 (Radimov ⚽ 8' Kosolapov ⚽ 38') / Moscow, Dynamo Stadium / Attendance: 30,000
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Radimov, Nikiforov, Kosolapov, Yanovskiy, Tsveiba, Onopko (captain), Alenichev, Grishin (Yesipov, 90), Cheryshev (Kovtun, 83), Beschastnykh (Tikhonov, 61).

The next game was officially billed as "Russia All Stars vs. FIFA World XI" and does not count as an official Russian national football team game. It was held to commemorate 100 years anniversary of football in Russia and 850 years anniversary of the founding of Moscow. Uwe Gospodarek, who played in this game, never actually played a game for Germany national football team.


 * August 18, 1997 / Friendly / Russia All Stars – FIFA World XI 0-2 (Djorkaeff ⚽ 55' Guerrero ⚽ 82') / Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium / Attendance: 62,000
 * Referee: Pierluigi Collina.
 * Russia All Stars: Ovchinnikov (Cherchesov, 46), Kovtun (Pagayev, 46), Nikiforov (Chugainov, 46), Popov, Kosolapov (Yanovskiy, 46), Kanchelskis (Grishin, 46), Onopko (captain), Alenichev (Kharlachyov, 46), Kolyvanov (Tikhonov, 46), Veretennikov, Simutenkov (Cheryshev, 46).
 * FIFA World XI: Zubizarreta (Gospodarek, 46), Vega, Suárez, Verlaat, Matthäus (captain), Djorkaeff (Tsveiba, 78), Guerrero, Winter, Papin (Abédi Pelé, 46), Effenberg, Shevchenko (Beschastnykh, 58).
 * FIFA World XI coaches: Bobby Robson and Bora Milutinović.


 * August 20, 1997 / Friendly / Russia – Yugoslavia 0-1 (Beschastnykh sent off: 69' – Jokanović ⚽ 87' (pen.)) / St. Petersburg, Petrovsky Stadium / Attendance: 9,000
 * Russia: Cherchesov (Ovchinnikov, 46), Tsveiba, Nikiforov, Yanovskiy, Kosolapov (Tikhonov, 46), Kanchelskis (Beschastnykh, 46), Onopko (captain), Alenichev, Kolyvanov (Grishin, 62), Khlestov (Kovtun, 62), Cheryshev (Simutenkov, 46).


 * September 10, 1997 / 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier / Bulgaria – Russia 1-0 (Ivanov ⚽ 56') / Sofia, Vasil Levski National Stadium / Attendance: 55,000
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Kovtun, Nikiforov, Kosolapov (Khokhlov, 46), Yanovskiy, Tsveiba, Onopko (captain), Kanchelskis, Alenichev, Kolyvanov, Simutenkov (Cheryshev, 76).


 * October 11, 1997 / 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier / Russia – Bulgaria 4-2 (Alenichev ⚽ 14' ⚽ 57' Kolyvanov ⚽ 41' (pen.) Yuran ⚽ 52' (pen.) – Gruev ⚽ 68' Kostadinov ⚽ 78') / Moscow, Luzhniki Stadium / Attendance: 21,000
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Popov, Chugainov, Tsveiba, Yanovskiy, Tikhonov, Onopko (captain), Alenichev (Kosolapov, 82), Yuran (Veretennikov, 67), Kolyvanov, Simutenkov (Radimov, 46).


 * October 29, 1997 / 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier, play-off first leg / Russia – Italy 1-1 (Cannavaro ⚽ 52' (o.g.) – Vieri ⚽ 50') / Moscow, Dynamo Stadium / Attendance: 20,000
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Radimov, Chugainov, Popov (Tikhonov, 78), Yanovskiy, Kovtun, Onopko (captain) (Tsveiba, 43), Alenichev, Yuran, Kolyvanov, Kanchelskis (Khokhlov, 46).


 * November 15, 1997 / 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier, play-off return leg / Italy – Russia / 1-0 (Casiraghi ⚽ 53') / Naples, Stadio San Paolo / Attendance: 76,500
 * Russia: Ovchinnikov, Kovtun, Nikiforov, Onopko (captain), Popov, Radimov (Semak, 66), Khokhlov, Yanovskiy (Simutenkov, 60), Alenichev, Yuran (Beschastnykh, 79), Kolyvanov.