This was the great Spain team from the World Cup of 2010. However, eight years on, the players have grown older and the other teams seem to have adjusted their game to stop Spain from passing them into oblivion. However, the Russian army hung on and who would believe that this was the squad which was feared people said would not be able to win a single match! Yet they took on the might of Spain, took them to the limit, and humbled them.
Spain was in control of the game and got the first breakthrough, which came from Russia’s defensive failings. It was started by a mistimed challenge by Yuri Zhirkhov, which resulted in a free kick. The free kick was whipped in by Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio and was diverted into goal by Ignashevich, who was busy marking Ramos. The ball hit him on his heel and diverted into the back of the net.
However, there was a twist in the tail as Gerrard Pique jumped in the air and his hand hit the ball that was raised from the corner. A penalty was awarded and Dzyuba scored from the spot to send De Gea the wrong way and equalize.
The quality of Russia in the penalty shootout was clinical. Spain’s hopes were watered down as soon as Russian goalkeeper saved a shot from Koke. It was upto Aspas to keep Spain’s hope of last eight alive but Aspas’s shot struck Akinfeev’s boot and disappeared into the night along with Spain’s hopes. This was the unlikeliest of victories and the host nations pulled one over Spain to advance to the next stage. Russia again proved to be the undoing of yet another great nation with its sight on world dominance.
