Russian Roulette at World Cup 2018

Spain 1-1 (3-4 on penalties) Russia

Incredible!

The Russian roulette wheel is a turning. Russia march on. The mighty Spain are out. The hosts have beaten the 2010 world champions and are into the quarter-finals.

On paper, Russia should be no match for Spain in this World Cup 2018 tie.

Yet the past fortnight has taught us there is nothing remotely predictable about World Cup 2018 results, and after spending most of the 120-plus minutes without the ball, sitting deep and frustrating Spain, the host nation had one opportunity to level and change the shape of this contest.

They took it and then played to their strengths against a technically superior country before sending their own nation into raptures.

Highlights of the game

It had all started according to the formbook.

Indeed, it took just 11 minutes for Spain to seemingly wreck the containment plan of the host nation.

At that point, SBOBET odds on a Spain victory were emphatic as the world champions of eight years ago seemed to be well on their way to the quarter-finals of World Cup 2018.

Yet seven minutes before the break, Artem Dzyuba’s header was inexplicably handled by Gerard Pique. Despite Spanish protestations, referee Bjorn Kuipers –  the best official I’ve seen so far with a raft of superb decisions – correctly awarded a spot kick which Dzyuba duly converted for his third goal of the tournament.

The forward had said pre-match they would need to play at their maximum levels to have any chance of causing a shock, and they were certainly doing their utmost.

It was game at a sun-drenched Luzhniki Stadium watched by 81,000 fans, the majority of them naturally partisan with many more watching on big screens in the city.

Earlier, Spanish captain Sergio Ramos steered a Marco Asensio free-kick towards goal and, as he was wrestled to the ground by Sergei Ignashevich, the ball rolled in off the Russian man’s ankle.

If it hadn’t gone across the line, it probably would have been a penalty.

In doing so, 38-year-old Ignashevich became the oldest scorer of an own goal in World Cup history.

Despite the advantage, Fernando Hierro’s side was rarely able to hit the heights with which they are associated as Russia rarely allowed them to cut loose, despite dominating possession.

That possession style was rarely penetrative, failing to breach a dogged home rearguard – at one point in the closing stages of normal time they had completed 711 passes to Russia’s 162 – as goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev did everything asked of him.

As the home team worked tirelessly, a stifled Spain remained patience personified.

Extra time sparked a slight increase in the Spanish pace, most notably when substitute Rodrigo cleverly deceived his marker and raced into the box. However, he was denied by the palms of Akinfeev.

Russia knew their limitations, Spain didn’t take advantage of their undoubted arsenal of talent, and a team unbeaten for two years had failed to make its mark on the biggest stage.

So the penalty roulette wheel was spun for the first time at this World Cup.

And what scenes!

They are in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1966.

Key statistics

This was the first time Russia had ever been involved in a penalty shoot-out in a major tournament.

Spain have now faced the hosts nine times in World Cups or European Championships and not won once.

This was Andres Iniesta’s 30th (and possibly final) game at a major tournament (he came on as a 66^th-minute substitute), becoming just the third Spanish player to reach that tally after Iker Casillas and Ramos, the skipper of their 2010 World Cup-winning team.

Spain had been unbeaten since losing to Italy at this stage in Euro 2016.

The 97^th-minute arrival of Aleksandr Erokhin made history as he became the first-ever fourth substitute in World Cup history. The rule change was announced in the spring.

Spain have scored 11 goals in their last three games against Russia – seven during two matches at Euro 2008, and three in last November’s friendly.

What’s next?

A quarter-final against Croatia or Denmark awaits Russia in Sochi next weekend as they continue to enjoy a tournament which has proven far more successful than what World Cup 2018 betting had ever offered of dreaming.

For serial winners Spain, who sacked their manager two days before the tournament, an inquest will inevitably follow before their next scheduled match, against Wales, in October.

A campaign for La Roja which began in controversy has ended in ignominy just two and a half weeks on.

 

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