IN the late summer of 1968, Russian troops rolled into Czechoslovakia in response to the so-called “Prague Spring” that took place between January and August of that year. The Cold War was raging and the sight of tanks in the picturesque capital city raised fears that the world was on the brink of a global conflict. From a football perspective, the invasion prompted Eastern Bloc countries to withdraw their clubs from UEFA competitions after the governing body ensured they met each other in the first round draws in order to avoid any awkward fixtures. In the European Cup, this meant clubs like Dynamo Kyiv, Red Star Belgrade and Levski Sofia withdrew, while in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, Union Berlin, Gorńik Zabrze and Dynamo Moscow,…