Spain obvious and heavy favourites for this as they seem to have got over their managerial problems and have a clear path all the way to the final. They are even confident enough to rest Iniesta. Russia meanwhile seem to be happy just to have got out of the group having avoided the humiliation of not doing so and the reality check of the thrashing from Uruguay. Amazingly, they have even left top scorer Cheryshev out of the team in favour of a more defensive formation.
Alan Shearer has been doing this analysis lark for several years now so why does he still sound so nervy? “He’s through on, er, goal but went, eh went wide, and hit the ball in, the ball in to the box where it er went, it went out of, er out of play.” Aargh! This will really annoy you now I’ve pointed it out incidentally.
Russia started fairly well, getting forward in the early stages but an extraordinary own goal gave Spain the lead as Ignashevich turned his back on a cross, wrestled Ramos to the ground then inadvertently back-heeled the ball into the net.
Russia continued to make a decent fist of it but rarely threatened the up-to-now shaky De Gea. Until they got a soft penalty for a handball from Pique. His arm was raised but the ball came from behind him. Hard to make a case for that being deliberate. Dzyuba though scored with aplomb to draw the Russians level at half-time.
The game was in danger of petering out in the second period so both sides made changes - Dzyuba off and Iniesta on among them. Didn’t make a lot of dfference until the last five minutes when Iniesta had a shot saved and Spain began to exert a bit of pressure without breaking through.
So to the first bout of extra-time in the tournament. The first period was a non-event - with the exception of the historic use of fourth subs by each side. In the second Rodrigo had a great run and shot saved and Spain had a penalty claim turned down after a VAR review, probably the correct decision as there was no clear and obvious foul.
A tense last few minutes of Spain pressure couldn’t produce a goal, with just another Rodrigo effort to show for it.
The penalty shootout (Russia’s first ever) was 50-50 according to Rio Ferdinand (thanks Rio) and went Russia’s way when Koke’s was saved and their victory was confirmed when Aspas’s was too despite De Gea getting close to three of Russia’s.
So the pretty-dire-to-watch Russians are through in what is now an incredibly weak half of the draw.
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