On the day of the country’s World Cup Round of 16 clash with Spain, Russians are behind their national team in a manner not seen in a generation.

It’s just over a quarter century since the fall of the Soviet Union - and a time when USSR teams were feared around the world.

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“There was an idea to create a new person, which would be healthy, intelligent, strong. A new Soviet person,” says Svetlana Balashova, a tour guide at the massive VDNH park in Moscow, where a new exhibition has opened looking at the nation’s football history.

“Young boys dreamed of becoming astronauts and footballers,” she says.

It’s hoped the exhibition can reconnect Russians with the glories of their football past when the USSR team was a symbol of Soviet unity.

“From the ideological point of view it was important to show that not only Russians were in this team,” Ms Balashova says, adding that the USSR team drew from many of the bloc’s republics, most notably perhaps from Ukraine and Georgia.

It was a time when the Soviet Union was on a mission to dominate world sport. A system of organised, free schools meant the best football talent was identified and nurtured.

Irina Dzidziguri, curator at Russia’s State Museum of Sport, says Soviet footballers were tools of propaganda and put to use in World War II as spies because of the foreign language skills.

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She says others were made to play an exhibition match in Leningrad - now St Petersburg - while it was under German siege - the radio broadcast lifting the spirits of Russian soldiers.

“For the population of Leningrad, for militaries, it was a very serious moment for hope,” Ms Dzidziguri says.

"The siege was going for three years and the players showed Russia and Russia's allies that Leningrad was alive and was still fighting."

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And after the war, came the golden age of Soviet football. From 1958 to 1972, the USSR was crowned European champions and were twice runners-up. They finished fourth at the 1966 World Cup, and were three-times quarter finalists.

“It was a generation of winners. They went into every match like a battle,” says Ms Dzidziguri.

"Lev Yashin was our biggest star. He was a pioneer goalkeeper and still the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon D'Or."

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The Ballon D'Or is the world player of the year award, won these days by the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Italia ‘90 was the swan song for the USSR team and in 1992 Russia played its first standalone match on the world stage.

It has taken over 25 years to find success at the World Cup and as Russia prepares to face Spain in the round of 16, a nation dares to dream once more.