It would overally be nice to give more love the the eastern europe compared to other games, where basically USSR encompases eastern half of the Europe as target audience remains a hard believer that Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia are still a thing.  (and thus these countries don't usually seem to exist to most of game industry)

If the point of game is fame, there are many countries who are famous for many things who are consistently overlooked in history books, while making for popular tourist destinations due to both costs and wages being effectively halved as their cheap labour market remains an attractive place to outsource for the "developed western overlords".

As a not that proud patriot (given current state of affairs) I propose Czech Republic. Over the course of history the Czech Republic (or modernly Czechia, as "republic" is not popular term under EU) was actually ruling seat of power over europe in the past with actual kings and stuff (Like Charles IV. literally the freaking ROMAN EMPEROR ffs. ruling from none other than CZECH kingdom). I would gladly have a relatable civ for the first time in .. ever?
I mean many casual players who are into Civs I know, state that it is also cause "ugh I get to play as *names their nation* and show that we can win and are the best!".

Surely I could make it so, that in this playthrough of history, I would not have major players give us up to Germany laughing in our faces over how fantasticly their decison averts the 2nd world war only to happen countless deaths of innocent people later.
Only to be consequently assimilated by USSR to finally achieve a peaceful revolution into stable democratic government on our own (cause there is very little oil here, so no freedom delivery, but hey there is some).

I would just skip that and remain the craftsmanship technocracy it was at the time and make something of it! Yehey!

If not Czech Republic, just draw pick something great between Germany and Russian Federation.
Someplace where people speak similar incompehrensible gibberish ranking among top of the most difficult languages still in use. Give the forever ommited people something to relate to.
Speaking only for myself, I would thank you.