Russia women's national football team

The Russia women's national football team represents Russia in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Football Union of Russia and affiliated with UEFA. Igor Shalimov is currently managing the team.

Russia qualified for two World Cups, 1999, 2003 and four European Championships, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2009.

As the men's team, the Russian women's national team is the direct successor of the CIS and USSR women's national teams.

History

Beginning

The USSR (who became the Commonwealth of Independent States during the campaign) reached the 1993 UEFA European Women's Championship quarter-finals at their only attempt and Russia were to match that two years later, with both teams losing to Germany over two legs. In 1997, they qualified directly for the final tournament but once there were defeated by Sweden, France – who they had beaten in the preliminaries – and Spain. However, they were among six European sides to qualify for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, thanks to two 2–1 play-off wins against Finland, and comfortable victories over Japan and Canada earned them a quarter-final, where they lost to eventual runners-up China.

After the turn of the Century

They cruised unbeaten into the 2001 continental finals but managed only a point against England in the group stage. Russia's fine qualifying run then continued in the 2003 World Cup and they again reached the quarter-finals before a 7–1 loss to Germany. That preceded something of a decline in...
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