Akinfeev's heroics help resilient Russia beat Spain on penalties; FT

Full-time analysis: Hosts Russia stunned pre-tournament favourites Spain 4-2 (1-1) via penalty shootouts here on Sunday to enter the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Earlier, Russia's Sergei Ignashevich's own goal in the 12th minute opened Spain's account before Artem Dzyuba struck in the 41st minute to equalise the issue.

In the penalty shootout, Koke and Lago Aspas missed their attempts for Spain while the Russians converted their first four spot kicks.

Russian goalkeeper made two heroics saves to stop Spain from advancing to the round of 8. 

Spain vs Russia started with the casual Spain possession antics with Russia making strides to counter them by pressing. Russia was most active in the wings with Golovin leading the charge. Spain were making advances with some good midfield playing with Isco leading the players. In the 11th minute, a fatal mistake by Sergei Ignashevich gave Spain the lead. Ignashevich was under pressure from Sergio Ramos and wrongly put the ball in his own net.

The momentum of the match then shifted to Spain attacking with their typical midfield playing. However, by the end of the first half, Russia started attacking more with an intent. They almost scored with a short from Golovin who failed to give the ball a proper bend. Pique committed a handball just inside the penalty area which leads to a Russia being awarded a penalty. Dzyuba equalised for Russia with a cool strike. 

The 2nd half was all about Spanish possession and Russia's defensive masterclass. Spain had 1194 passes in the game and Russia had only 290 passes. Spain had over 79% possession by the end. 

The match clearly shows that having mere possession is not the main thing as Spain had struggled to win another goal. The predictability of Tiki Taka has been well exposed in recent tournament and defenders are now more aware how to stop the attack. 

The World Cup loss marks the last match Andres Iniesta would play for his country.

The match clearly shows Spain need a new strategy and gameplay in the coming tournaments and just can't rely on mere possession football. Whereas for Russia, they would create havoc for teams if they continue with this determination.

 

Extra Time

Updates

The macth has headed for penalties

105 min: The 1st of extra time ends with the socres tied at 1-1.

95 min: Spain are enjoyijng possesion and are attacking in numbers. Russia are holding on.

Updates:

90 min: The scores are tied at the 90th minute. Extra time awaits to find a winner.

72 min: Spain are doing their usual Tiki Taka but are not getting any direct chance to score. 

54 min: Spain are dominating possesion but lacks that final pass. Meanwhile, Russia are hanging on and hoping to counter.
 

Half-time analysis: Spain vs Russia started with the casual Spain possession antics with Russia making strides to counter them by pressing. Russia was most active in the wings with Golovin leading the charge. Spain were making advances with some good midfield playing with Isco leading the players.  In the 11th minute, a fatal mistake by Sergei Ignashevich gave Spain the lead. Ignashevich was under pressure from Sergio Ramos and wrongly put the ball in his own net. 

The entropy of the match then shifted to Spain attacking with their typical midfield playing. However, by the end of the first half, Russia started attacking more with an intent. They almost scored with a short from Golovin who failed to give the ball a proper bend. Pique committed a handball just inside the penalty area which leads to a Russia being awarded a penalty. Dzyuba equalised for Russia with a cool strike. The match is all set for the 2nd half with nothing to separate both the teams.

Trivia:

Artem Dzyuba has been directly involved in four of Russia's last seven World Cup goals, scoring three and assisting another.

Russia are the first team to score multiple own goals in a World Cup tournament since 1966, when Bulgaria conceded two.

Sergei Ignashevich is the oldest ever player to score an own goal in a World Cup match.

Spain have scored in each of their last 23 games in all competitions (67 in total), their longest ever run. 

Spain have scored 10 goals in their last three games against Russia (7 in two games at Euro 2008, 3 in a friendly in November 2017).

Updates: 
 

42min: Dzyuba equalises with a penalty as Pique commits a hand ball. 

35 min:Golovin shot wide as he struggles to find the bend.

30 min: Spain are playing their usual possession football while Russia has struggled to find the final dead ball.

11min: Ignashevich scores an own goal for Russia amid pressure from Ramos. Spain leads!!

5min: Spain trying to play possession but Russia is pressing hard.


Line-ups:

Russia subs: Andrey Semenov, Denis Cheryshev, Yuri Gazinskiy, Alan Dzagoev, Fedor Smolov, Andrey Lunev, Vladimir Granat, Aleksey Miranchuk, Anton Miranchuk, Vladimir Gabulov, Aleksandr Erokhin.
 

RUSSIA (3-4-2-1): Igor Akinfeev; Ilya Kutepov, Sergei Ignashevich, Fedor Kudryashov; Mario Fernandes; Daler Kuzyaev, Roman Zubnin; Yuri Zhirkov; Aleksandr Samedov, Aleksandr Golovin; Artem Dzyuba.
 

Spain subs: Daniel Carvajal, Andres Iniesta, Saul Niguez, Rodrigo Moreno, Thiago Alcantara, Lucas Vazquez, Alvaro Odriozola, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cesar Azpilicueta, Nacho Monreal, Iago Aspas, Pepe Reina.
 

SPAIN (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba; Koke, Sergio Busquets; David Silva, Isco, Marco Asensio; Diego Costa.

Spain played remarkably well in a 3-3 draw with European champions Portugal - just two days after Lopetegui's dismissal - and scraped to a 1-0 victory over Iran before a shaky 2-2 draw with Morocco.

Russia have been one of the surprise teams of the tournament. Ranked 70th in the world by FIFA, Stanislav Cherchesov's side won their opening match against Saudi Arabia 5-0 before disposing of Egypt 3-1 five days later.

They thudded back to earth with a 0-3 loss to Uruguay in their final group match after Igor Smolnikov's 36th-minute red card.

When and where to watch Spain vs Russia

Time: 7:30 PM (IST)

In today's third Group of 16 match, Spain vs Russia, will be played in Moscow on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 7:30 PM (IST).

Spain vs Russia will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Six and Sony Six HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.

Spain vs Russia will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv also. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.

Match Preview

But one senses that the result against the Uruguayans has done little to dampen team spirit as Russia benefit from a groundswell of optimism and support that goes along with being the tournament hosts.

While their defence has looked shaky on occasions, Russia has genuine quality in attack. Spain will be wary of the threat posed by Artem Dzyuba, Denis Cheryshev, and Aleksandr Golovin, who have scored six of Russia's eight goals and produced three assists.

Spain also have no shortage of scoring options, even if there are doubts about who will start up front for them at Luzhniki Stadium.

Diego Costa has been Spain's top scorer here with three goals but there remains a feeling that the 29-year-old, who thrives in a counter-attacking team like Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, may not be an ideal fit for Spain.

His battering ram style looks at odds with a side that still prioritizes possession and slick triangular passing, hallmarks of their tiki-taka revolution that delivered two European championships and the World Cup from 2008 to 2012.

The Brazil-born Costa was anonymous for long periods against Morocco, struggling to find pockets of space against the African side's deep-lying defence. The introduction of Iago Aspas, who replaced Costa in the 74th minute, provided Spain with an immediate spark and Hierro might be tempted to start the Celta Vigo player on Sunday, either as a false nine or on a wing.

Hierro also seems undecided about how to set up his midfield, having chopped and changed personnel and formations in the first three matches.

Thiago Alcantara failed to impress in his first start for the tournament against Morocco and an opportunity may be given to Atletico Madrid's Koke against Russia.

The fact that defender Sergio Ramos has completed more passes than anyone in the group stage says a lot about a side that saw a lot of the ball but didn't do much with it.

However, they will hope that Russia will offer them more space than a defensive Iran did. If Russia do open up, the Spanish should have more than enough quality to beat them.

The host nation have a tough task to get past the Spanish, especially after Uruguay exposed their weaknesses in their last group match.

However, Russia can expect help from the 81,000 fans in the Luzhniki Stadium and will also take heart from the fact Spain have never beaten a host nation in a major tournament.

Their best hope will be to play a high-energy pressing game in their own half and look for Denis Cheryshev to exploit spaces behind a Spanish defense which tends to push to the halfway line.

Team speak

Russia's World Cup topscorer Denis Cheryshev says the hosts can hurt 2010 winners Spain in the World Cup last 16  despite the huge disparity in talent between the two teams.

Russia entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked side, at 70th in the world, but comprehensive wins over Saudi Arabia and Egypt have boosted expectations.

Now they must find a way past title contenders Spain to prolong their run after reaching the knockout phase for the first time in the post-Soviet era. Villarreal winger Cheryshev, who has scored three goals so far, is looking to exploit a surprisingly suspect Spain defence.

Fernando Hierro's side have conceded five goals in three matches, with questions in particular over the form of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

"That's my intention as a forward," said Cheryshev.

"Spain have some great players and might even be the best team in the world, in any case they're close to being the best. But any team can hurt another and we'll certainly do our best."

Cheryshev is no stranger to Spanish football, having spent most of his life in the country and come up through the Real Madrid youth system.

"I'm sure we're going to have a hard time and I repeat we know they're excellent and can play very well," he said. "But we also have our assets and we'll have to take advantage of them.

"However, I think that we can win against anybody, we can always win and that's what we need to believe, just think about victory."

Russia will have the support of most of the 80,000 fans at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, and Cheryshev is hoping the team can deliver a performance they will remember.

"I think for us tomorrow has to be a party, especially for the fans. They need to enjoy the match and we need to give 200 percent.

"We are playing at home but I think the team is relaxed and very much ready to do a good job." Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said it was a "life and death match".

"It's not a pressure," he said. "I believe there is a responsibility, Spain feels this and so does Russia. If you lose this you're out.

"This is something like an exam in Russian -- what you write your teacher or professor will read and check and you can't change anything."

Russia drew 3-3 with Spain in a friendly in Saint Petersburg in November, but former national team goalkeeper Cherchesov said much had changed since then.

"It was like a test game, tomorrow is an official game. They are two different things," said the 54-year-old.