ɔːlðˈoʊ wˈaɪdli ɹᵻɡˈɑːɹdᵻd baɪ spˈɑːɹɾæks fˈænz æz ðə tˈiːmz bˈɛst plˈeɪɚɹ ˈɛvɚ, hiː wʌz ˈɔːlweɪz dɹˈɑːpt baɪ ðə nˈæʃənəl tˈiːm ɔnðɪ ˈiːv ʌv sˈɛvɹəl mˈeɪdʒɚ tˈʊɹnəmənts, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ tˈuː wˈɜːld kˈʌps ænd ɐ jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp.
Although widely regarded by Spartak's fans as the team's best player ever, he was always dropped by the national team on the eve of several major tournaments, including two World Cups and a European Championship.