THE VITALS:

Team: Russia

Brand: Nike

Era: 2004-05 (Used for the 2004 UEFA European Championships, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign)

Name/Number: -

CONDITION: VERY GOOD

This rare shirt remains in ultimately, very good condition in spite of its years. It should be noted that outer white applications (sleeves, base and side-panels) are whiter than the main body of the shirt.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Small

Pit to Pit Measurement: 18 inches

Shirt Length: 26.5 inches 

Made in the debut Nike Total-90 range that was introduced ahead of the 2004-05 season, this shirt, unlike many of its contemporaries, provides excellent, snug dimensions for a size small football shirt.

DESCRIPTION:

In the final shirt made by Nike for Russia; this shirt took the conventions of the Total 90 design and created a stoic white and blue strip in what was essentially the upgrade to the previous cycle’s home shirt. It was truly fitting that this shirt was simply white and blue; with this colour combination being synonymous of Nike and Russia’s relationship they had between 1998-2004.

THE SEASON:

After eventually sealing their place at the Euro 2004 tournament final’s, Russia would be thrown into Group A alongside Spain, Greece and tournament host’s Portugal. Preparations for the competition didn’t go according to plan, and then back-to-back defeats to the Iberian pairing would eliminate Russia from the European Championships. They would however, bow out as the only side to defeat tournament winners Greece; defeating them 2-1 in Faro on 20/06/04. That win would spur an upturn in form and they saw out 2004 winning 3 of their next 5 games that year. Their 2005 form would be even stronger, losing to Italy in their first match of the year; they would remain unbeaten for the rest of the year; earning draws with both Germany and Portugal. In heart-breaking fashion they would fail to reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup however; finishing level on points with Slovakia, their inferior goal difference would see them finish 3^rd in the group.

The notable players that season(s) were:

Dmtri Kirichenko, Aleksandr Kerzhakov, Dmitri Bulykin, Dmitri Sychev, Evgeni Aldonin, Dmitri Loskov, Vladmir Bystrov, Dmitri Alenichev, Alkesandr Mostovoi, Rolan Gusev, Marat Izmailov, Igor Semshov, Andrei Karyaka, Alexey Smertin, Vladislav Radimov, Aleksei Bugayev, Dmitri Sennikov, Vadim Evseev, Aleksandr Anyukov, Roman Sharonov, Sergei Ovchinnikov, Igor Akinfeeva