The 1988 Soviet Union European Championship team was selected on the basis of players' results in a number of computer games or tests created by the Kiev scientist Anatoly Zelentsov.

"There were 40 candidates [for the squad]," said Zelentsov, "and with these tests we selected the first 20."

The games, also used to deduce prospective signings' suitability for the Dynamo Kiev side of the time, tested a range of attributes from nerve and endurance to reaction times and memory.

"There are lots of ways of testing," said Zelentsov. "But I prefer the computer."

With some justification - the Soviet side reached the Euro 88 final before losing to the Dutch.