MOSCOW — We have a saying in Russia, Stanislav Cherchesov told reporters from behind his fearsome mustache on Saturday afternoon. “Anyone,” said Cherchesov, the coach of Russia’s World Cup team, “can be a god if he tries.” The statement — made a day before Russia would play Spain in the World Cup’s round of 16 — was both pushback and premonition. Cherchesov knew what everyone was thinking: that his Russia team, the lowest-ranked in the field, had surpassed expectations as the host of the World Cup but would surely reach the end of the line when it took on Spain, a former world and European champion. [Up Next: Follow our live coverage of Brazil vs. Mexico] But Cherchesov seemed to know better. He thought his team had more to give. And he was right.<doc-sep>The 2018 World Cup has claimed another pre-tournament favorite in its early goings. Spain joins Germany and Argentina after losing on penalties to Russia in a game that finished 1–1 after extra time. As they have done so many times over the past decade of international soccer, the Spanish players saddled another team on to its passing carousel of gradual doom. Unfortunately for Spain, this time the team it tiki-taka’d to death was itself. Its staggering passing numbers—1,029 completed in this game alone—disguised the fact that this Spain was not like the versions that won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010. Gone was the team many accused of trying to walk the ball into the net, that eschewed the good in favor of the perfect. This Spain kept possession as a means of killing time between sudden bursts of violence from Sergio Ramos and Diego Costa, which seemed to be its main method of actually netting goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2018 team scrounged half-chances, scoring via pinball wizardry from Costa or Nacho’s Rubber Soul of a swerving volley. (That got one-upped by Benjamin Pavard’s Revolver of the form for France Saturday.) There was little effort, and even less effectiveness, devoted to actually penetrating opposing defenses; the objective seemed to be to hypnotize opponents into forgetting about one of its diminutive passing cogs, then take advantage when the defense scrambles back in that direction. Call it War and Pass. Here the war came on the Spanish goal, with Ramos reacting to a football tackle from Sergei Ignashevich by fortuitously dragging the Russian defender into the path of the ball so it bounced off his calf and into the net. It probably would have been a penalty for Spain anyway. Neither Ramos nor Ignashevich seemed to have any idea where the ball was, though that didn’t stop Ramos from running away celebrating, as though the world would just take his word for it. Advertisement Then the pass. And another and another, ad infinitum. Spain didn’t even attempt its first shot until after Russia had tied the game. Ramos and Gerard Piqué had had little asked of them defensively since the opener against Portugal, and they didn’t look good when called upon since then. Ramos spent the early portion of this game trying to win headers by climbing Russian target forward Artem Dzyuba like a toddler trying to pull himself up on a couch, all pushing from the elbows and feet wriggling in the air. Dzyuba ended up victimizing Piqué to earn the penalty, heading a cross directly into Piqué’s upraised arm. Advertisement When Russia did manage to catch up to the ball, the team had success forcing the Spanish midfielders off it. But with Dzyuba leading the line, the Russians’ opportunities for quick counters were always going to be limited, like they were trying to head off a retreating enemy by rolling their cannons after him. Perhaps this contributed to the curious lack of Russian urgency even when its players did get the ball near the Spanish goal; they seemed to be trying to line up their shot just right even after Dzyuba subbed out in the second half. Or maybe playing for penalties was always part of the plan. Maybe Russia knew that Spain’s passing hypnosis worked both ways, that scoring a winner too early could jolt a potentially threatening opponent out of its own stupor, that its own fitness levels could hold up through 120 minutes in the Spanish whirligig. Mission accomplished. Spain never came to. When Iago Aspas stepped up to take the deciding penalty for Spain, he tried to pass it right down the middle.<doc-sep>Watch the highlights of goals and key plays as Russia shocks Spain in penalty kicks to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals. Instead of the end of the World Cup host's run, Sunday marked the biggest surprise we've seen yet in Russia. Russia defeated Spain 4-3 in penalty kicks after 120 minutes of 1-1 play, overcoming an early own goal by Sergei Ignashevich with an Artem Dzyuba penalty kick and defending for its lives while Spain possessed over three-quarters of the ball at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. It's Russia, the lowest-ranked team at this World Cup, going onto the quarterfinals to face either Croatia or Denmark, while Spain's title hopes are finished. Andres Iniesta opened the PK round with a conversion, but he was answered by Fyodor Smolov. Gerard Pique followed with a second conversion for Spain, but Sergei Ignashevich followed suit, with a bit of a hestiation in his run that made David De Gea show his hand. Spain was the first to misfire, as Koke had the favorites' third spot kick saved by Igor Akinfeev. Aleksandr Golovin gave the hosts the edge, beating De Gea to make it 3-2 after three rounds. Sergio Ramos's conversion was matched by Denis Cheryshev's, forcing Spain to make its fifth kick to stay alive. That didn't happen. Iago Aspas had his blast down the middle stonewalled by a kick save, sending Russia through to the quarterfinals. Both teams revealed some lineup surprises, with Russia opting for five in the back and benching top scorer Cheryshev–who plays in La Liga–while Spain opted to sit Iniesta and Dani Carvajal, instead starting Marco Asensio and Nacho. Spain dominated the possession in the opening minutes, as plenty expected, but it was Russia that had the match's first semi-dangerous chance. Golovin burst down the right channel, beating Pique for pace and earning a corner when his cross was blocked. Nothing came of it, but it was a statement of intent from the Russians, who were set up to defend and counter with their lineup choice. Spain took the lead in the 12th minute on an Asensio set piece. With Ramos and Ignashevich tangling at the doorstep and going to ground, the ball hit off the Russia defender, whose back was to the play, and in for the own goal, giving La Furia Roja a 1-0 edge. From there, it was a slow death by possession for the hosts. With Spain seizing the early momentum and the home crowd not as boistrous as in the opening moments, Spain exerted its control over the ball and the game, comfortably nursing its lead. Russia earned the chance it needed in the 36th minute. Enjoying a rare bout of possession in the attacking third, Russia had Spain's defense scrambling to clear, and the ball fell to Golovin at the top of the box. He took a touch to set up his right foot and whipped in a curling shot, aiming to tuck it inside the far post, but it went inches wide of the mark and a diving De Gea, keeping the score 1-0. The equalizer came soon after, though. Off a Russia corner kick, Pique was whistled for a handball, with his arm extended as he jumped to defend it. Dzyuba converted from the spot in the 42nd minute, bringing the Luzhniki back to life and bringing Russia back on level standing. Spain looked to retake the advantage early in the second half, pushing forward into the final third. Asensio sent in a cross that looped to Jordi Alba, but took an odd hop, with Alba only able to get an awkward knee to it and send it lofted toward the far post. Akinfeev was forced into a diving save to his left, and the veteran goalkeeper made the clean stop. The second half continued to develop like most of the first, with Spain possessing and passing without much of a purpose and Russia seeking to counter and score off set pieces. Russia turned to its bench at the hour mark, bringing on Cheryshev at last, while Spain, too, brought in a surprise substitute as Iniesta entered to try and inject something more decisive into the attacking half. It was Iniesta who came closest to a winner late. The former Barcelona legend had the ball laid off to him at the edge of the box, and he lashed in a low, right-footed volley in the 85th minute. Akinfeev got down to make the stop, and Aspas, on as a late substitute for Diego Costa, put his chance off the rebound well wide of the mark from a tight left-sided angle. The match remained level through 90 minutes and stoppage time, sending the proceedings to extra time for a first time at this World Cup. That allowed for a bit of history, as with the new rule change, allowing teams a fourth substitution once things moved beyond regulation, Aleksandr Erokhin came on as Russia's fourth sub of the match. In terms of the action, Spain continued to carry the possession without much to show for it. Asensio got free for a 20-yard shot at goal, but it was hit right to Akinfeev, who made the save. A few minutes later, Asensio was taken off as Spain made its fourth substitute, as seldom-used Rodrigo came on in his place. Rodrigo made an instant impact, too, turning on his defender, then turning on the jets down the right-hand side. He fired from a tight angle, but Akinfeev was equal to it, parrying the shot away. Spain had a chance on the rebound, but the follow-up chance was blocked, keeping Russia even at 1-1. Spain though it had a shout for a penalty in the 114th minute. Both Pique and Ramos appeared to be yanked down on a free kick, and even though the referee listened in as VAR reviewed the play, he waved the match to continue on, resisting despite Spain's most fervent claims. Rodrigo forced another save in the 120th minute, putting a left-footed shot on frame from 20 yards, but nothing too troubling for Akinfeev.<doc-sep>Spain seemed on the right path after its early goal. From the right of the penalty area, Marco Asensio targeted Sergio Ramos on the back side. Ramos is well known for creating chaos and, with the ball in flight, he tangled with Sergey Ignashevich. The Russian defender, who will turn 39 on July 14, never turned around. As he fell on Ramos, his back kick with the left foot produced a solid volley to the far corner.<doc-sep>
Spain, one of the favorites to win the 2018 World Cup, is heading home early after a heartbreaking loss. The host nation Russia defeated La Roja on Sunday 4-2 on penalty kicks after finishing 1-1 after 120 minutes in the round of 16 of the tournament. Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was the hero, saving penalty shots from Koke and Iago Aspas to pull off the shocker of the tournament and send the Iberians packing. It was an own goal in the 12th minute from Sergei Ignashevich that was equalized late in the first half by Artem Dzyuba penalty kick. No team could find a winner in the second half and extra time despite Spain coming close on a various occasions. In the penalty shootout, Russia made all four of their attempts, with Akinfeev making an incredible kick save on Aspas to send the home fans into a frenzy under the rain in Moscow. Here's Russia's last converted penalty kick and the winning save: Spain came close to winning this match but blew a huge chance to make a deep run into the tournament on what is considered the lighter side of the bracket. Chances like this one from Andres Iniesta were hard to come by, but Akinfeev was on the top of his game for much of the match. It's incredible step forward for a Russian team that was spiraling downward in the leading months before the tournament. The team will now face either Croatia or Denmark in the quarterfinals, but it's even better news for teams like England and Colombia, which play on Tuesday. It gives them a much more manageable path to the final, but of course you've got to play well to get there. Where as one side only has contenders like Croatia, England and Colombia, the other side of the bracket still has Brazil, Mexico, Belgium, France and Uruguay. Russia will next play on Saturday in the quarterfinals against the winner of Denmark and Croatia. All World Cup games can be streamed in English and Spanish on fuboTV​ (Try for free). Relive commentary from Sunday's Spain vs. Russia match If the live blog doesn't load properly, click here.