Spain 1-1 (3-4) Post Match Analysis

MOSCOW -- Three points from a wild last-16 game as hosts Russia eliminated Spain on penalties.

1. Russia pull off the upset

There were moments of tension (and moments for dozing). There was drama (and plenty of blank stares). There was lots and lots and lots (and lots) of passing. And then, in the end, there were penalties.

You have to say it wasn't the recipe for one of the most visually compelling games in soccer's pantheon, but you can also say this: It produced a stunning upset.

Russia, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, beat Spain 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals. The home team, whom many picked to go out in the group stage, will face either Croatia or Denmark next as they seek to equal South Korea's stunning run to the semifinals as hosts in 2002. Spain, meanwhile, will be left to rue another World Cup disappointment. And while this one may not be as embarrassing as their elimination before the knockout rounds in Brazil four years ago, it will sting all the same.

By all measures, Spain should have won. They completed 1,029 passes to Russia's 202 and dominated possession throughout. They had the more talented players and more experience. They had the pedigree.

Yet none of it was enough. Spain's only goal came from an own goal by Sergey Ignashevich and Russia's five defenders at the back flummoxed Spain throughout. Even worse, there was no urgency, no drive from Fernando Hierro's players even as the game wore on. By extra time, it felt like penalties were inevitable -- an outcome Russia were only too happy to see.

Once there, one still might have favored Spain, but Koke's weak shot was easily saved by Igor Akinfeev and,after Aleksandar Golovin and Denis Cheryshev converted, Iago Aspas's effort was flicked away by Akinfeev's boot to send the crowd at Luzhniki Stadium into full-throated delirium. Spain's players simply stared off into the distance, left to wonder what could have been.


Russia took their chances and dug deep to take Spain to penalties, where they wrapped up a famous win. David Ramos/FIFA/Getty Images
2. Spain miss an incredible opportunity

As the knockout round brackets were formed, it seemed clear that Spain should be seen as the big winner: paired with teams like Denmark, Croatia, Sweden, Switzerland and England on their side of the bracket, the Spanish suddenly looked like favorites to make the final despite their pre-tournament coaching drama.

And yet, then the games started. Spain's best performance was a 3-3 draw with Portugal in the opener but they declined from there, never displaying the cutting edge a real favorite should. And so even with favorites like Brazil, France and Belgium on the opposite side of the draw, there was always a lingering feeling that Spain might stumble.

Stumble they did, too, largely because of a muddled defense and some woeful finishing. In 2010, Spain scored only seven goals on its way to the title but here, Sergio Ramos