Eleven Hopes () is a 1975 Soviet

sports comedy A sports film is a film genre in which any particular sport plays a prominent role in the film's plot or acts as its central theme. It is a production in which a sport or a sports-related topic is prominently featured or is a focus of the plot. De ...

film directed by

Viktor Sadovsky The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * Victor (1951 film), ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * Victor (1993 film), ...

. The film tells about the creation of a football team and her preparation for the

World Cup A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the name is ...

Plot

Following a recent failure by the USSR national football team in international competitions, the Soviet Football Federation appoints seasoned coach Vasily Vorontsov as head coach to prepare the team for the World Cup qualifiers. Vorontsov agrees, with the condition that he can select players independently. He travels across the country to scout talent, selecting veteran defender Boris Lavryonov, promising young player Konstantin Kosichkin, and a top second-league striker, Vladimir Babochkin, known for his loyalty to his club despite offers from top-league teams. Meanwhile, in Leningrad, team candidate Sergey Romantsev suffers a severe injury. Instead of heading to a local hospital, he insists on traveling to Moscow to see Dr. Mironova at the trauma institute, only to find she’s abroad. Instead, a young surgeon, Irina Lozovskaya, performs his operation and, after his recovery, joins the team as a physician at Vorontsov’s request. As the team begins intensive training, Vorontsov helps players navigate personal issues and form a cohesive unit. The challenges culminate when starting goalkeeper Viktor Parkhomenko breaks team protocol and nearly misses a critical warm-up match. Following a sincere conversation, he’s allowed to stay as a substitute. The team then faces its deciding qualifier against Spain, a game shrouded in pressure, with the Spanish hosts arranging an intimidating visit to a bullfight and fans creating an intense atmosphere. The game proves fiercely competitive, with the USSR team forced to defend against Spain’s relentless offense. Despite setbacks, including Romantsev’s injury and the Spanish team’s aggressive tactics, Romantsev returns to the field in the final moments, setting up Kosichkin for a game-tying goal. With the draw, the USSR team achieves a hard-won success, celebrating their journey toward the World Cup.

Cast

Anatoly Papanov Anatoli Dmitriyevich Papanov (; 31 October 1922 – 5 August 1987) was a Soviet and Russian actor, drama teacher, and theatre director at the Moscow Satire Theatre where he served for almost 40 years. A prominent character actor, Papanov is most ...

as Vorontsov * Lyubov Virolaynen as Lozovskaya *

Yuriy Demich Jury, Jurij, Iurii, Iouri, Yury, Yuri, Youri, Yurii, Yuriy or Yurij is the Slavic (, or , or , or ) form of the masculine given name George; it is derived directly from the Greek form Georgios and related to Polish Jerzy, Czech Jiří, and Slovak ...

as Romantsev * Aleksandr Goloborodko as Lavrenyov *

Igor Dobryakov Igor may refer to: * Igor (given name), an East Slavic given name and a list of people with the name Arts, entertainment, and media *Igor (character), a stock character * Igors (''Discworld''), a fictional humanoid family in the ''Discworld'' ...

as Sokolovsky * Nikolai Sektimenko as Parkhomenko *

Boris Shcherbakov Boris Vasilevich Shcherbakov (; born 11 December 1949) is a Soviet and Russian film and theater actor. People's Artist of Russian Federation (1994). Winner of USSR State Prize (1985). Biography Boris Shcherbakov was born in Vasilyevsky Island ...

as Babochkin *

Yevgeny Leonov-Gladyshev Yevgeny Borisovich Leonov-Gladyshev (; born 24 Jan 1952, Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR) is a Soviet and Russian theater and film actor, and film director. He was awarded Honored Artist of the Russian Federation (1993) and People's Artist of the R ...

as Kosichkin *

Nikolai Ozerov Nikolai Nikolayevich Ozerov (; 11 December 1922 – 2 June 1997) was a Russian tennis player and actor, who was best known as a leading sports commentator of the Soviet Union in the 1950s–80s. He was awarded the Olympic Order in 1992, and recei ...

as Commentator *

Igor Gorbachyov Igor Olegovich Gorbachyov (October 20, 1927February 19, 2003) was a Soviet and Russian actor, theater director and pedagogue. People's Artist of the USSR (1972).

as Nikolai Ivanovich Eleven Hopes (1976) Full Cast / Crew
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References

External links

* 1975 films 1970s Russian-language films Soviet sports comedy films Lenfilm films Soviet association football films 1970s Soviet films 1970s sports comedy films Russian-language sports comedy films {{1970s-USSR-film-stub