A drab Russia-Spain game was nearly sparked to life during extra time after it appeared Sergio Ramos was brought down in the penalty box during a set piece. The match official paused the game for a moment to give VAR time to assess the play before the game resumed with no penalty given. With the game being in Russia, pretty much everyone had the same thought… The VAR room is not secure enough to give a 114th minute penalty against Russia, no — Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) July 1, 2018 Ref had to balance making the right decision against his ability to touch car door handles with confidence for rest of life — Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 1, 2018 Putin was standing behind the VAR officials with a Polonium Sandwich. — Captain Obvious (@HashtagObvious) July 1, 2018 113th minute…Spain player goes down in the box…you’re the referee…Putin watching from the stands….yeahhh about that penalty…….. — VUJ (@DavidVujanic) July 1, 2018 Putin was about to call in a drone strike on the penalty review booth — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) July 1, 2018 Can’t believe Putin didn’t give that penalty #SPARUS — Richard Osman (@richardosman) July 1, 2018 Putin had to be in the VAR office — Tom Adams (@tomEurosport) July 1, 2018 Putin Executive Decision on that VAR. — The Boi (@ChuBoi) July 1, 2018 Just checking with VAR who are just checking with Putin… — Justin Moorhouse (@justinmoorhouse) July 1, 2018 the VAR review was just message from Putin saying he knows where all their families live — Billie (@Billie_T) July 1, 2018 Putin stepped in and said, yeah you aren't reversing that in my country — Tass (@FaZeTass) July 1, 2018 The non-call proved to be decisive. The game would go on to penalty kicks where Russia would prevail 4-3.<doc-sep>FIFA World Cup 2018 produced yet another nail-biting encounter between Russia and Spain that saw the former prevail over the latter in the penalties. With only 12 minutes on the clock, Spain opened the scoring courtesy of an own goal from Sergei Ignashevich. The Russian veteran was so busy wrestling with Sergio Ramos that the ball clipped his calf before going straight into the back of the net. Russia then equalized in the 41th minute with the help of a penalty which was awarded after Gerard Piqué obstructed Aleksandr Samedov's header with a raised hand. Consequently, Artem Dzyuba converted the spot-kick to put Sbornaya level. As a result, the game was decided on penalties which were won by Russia. Here's how Twitter reacted to the giant-killing: "You can release De Gea's family now. He kept his word." pic.twitter.com/4ig9xzMtoL — Witty Footy (@Witty_Footy) July 1, 2018 The reaction at the airport in Dallas to Spain missing its final PK and losing to Russia. pic.twitter.com/1KGXr8Hi2T — Jason Page (@TheBackPage) July 1, 2018 Spain, Argentina + Portugal all out in the space of 24 hours........ 🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/S9eKDKHbp8 — Moriarty.. (@JoeAMoriarty) July 1, 2018 Russia are through to the quarterfinals! Spain go home! Nothing makes sense at this World Cup. pic.twitter.com/2BS1KsuQnX — FotMob 🌏🏆 (@FotMob) July 1, 2018 No one talk to me for the rest of the day #ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/kvTBHLQFh3 — Karyn (@anselmoke) July 1, 2018 #RUS have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1970, and first time since the break-up of the Soviet Union. Home advantage counts. 🏟 pic.twitter.com/hRrLB1Z8yG — Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 1, 2018 Russians right now pic.twitter.com/G7ORQXRGgo — Troll Football (@TrollFootball) July 1, 2018 The main person to blame for this shit-hole performance in the World Cup is Rubiales. 0 self esteem by letting Lopetegui go only a few days before the World Cup started. Had to feed his ego. Stupid decision. — SB (@Realmadridplace) July 1, 2018 Mental. 120 mins of dominance from Spain, yet they created next to nothing. Congrats to Russia on such a disciplined performance. #WorldCup18 #ESPRUS — Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) July 1, 2018 2014 World Cup champions Germany knocked out by South Korea. 2010 World Cup champions Spain knocked out by Russia. Football, bloody hell. pic.twitter.com/BxUqNELadY — Messi World (@MessiWorId) July 1, 2018 Argentina Out Germany Out Portugal Out Spain Out Columbia the best team we play till the final. It’s Actually Sunny in England Harry Kane Can’t Stop Scoring It’s Coming Home ⚽️ — PyroTing 🔥 (@AshleyRaksu) July 1, 2018 With Spain out, one of these teams is guaranteed to be in the #WorldCup final: 🇷🇺 Russia 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇨🇴 Colombia 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England pic.twitter.com/ddo7yFu6PE — Soccer Memes (@SoccerMemes) July 1, 2018 *Pique does a blatant hand ball to make it 1-1 at half time* Putin: “You can release Shakira now” 😂😂#ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/63xpK8oJg5 — Hassan Omran 🇸🇦🇬🇧 (@HassanAOmran) July 1, 2018 Spain's gameplan: Step 1. Win possession of the ball Step 2. Pass sideways/backwards until you lose the ball Step 3. Repeat pic.twitter.com/AwaSyVW3mh — Soccer Memes (@SoccerMemes) July 1, 2018 I’m excited for the shootout in this game because I think Spain will still try to pass the ball — Drew Magary (@drewmagary) July 1, 2018 Spain plays like the guy in FIFA who tries to play like FIFA is real life, but only manages to pointlessly pass the ball around for 90 mins, concedes on a counter attack, loses 1-0, and messages you complaining about how much more possession he had than you. — FutEconomist (@FUT_Economist) July 1, 2018 Spain's striker waiting for someone to make a forward pass. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/vgA8OGXIHu — Historical Sport (@HistorySport_) July 1, 2018 I've not enjoyed this Spain performance at all. Found it really boring. — Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) July 1, 2018 1000 - Spain are the first team to attempt 1000+ passes in a World Cup game since at least 1966. Style.#ESP #RUS #ESPRUS #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xAtELSgda9 — OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 1, 2018 When the game is so boring, they're cutting to people eating... #ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/RYnG6h2fue — Top 4ce (@Top4ce) July 1, 2018 Remember when Spain intelligently overloaded the half-spaces and played quick 1-2s and throughballs behind the line after lay-offs? Well, they fired the guy responsible for that. #ESPRUS — Constantin Eckner (@cc_eckner) July 1, 2018 Russia have putin a performance 👏 — Mike Sanz (@mikesanz19) July 1, 2018 Penalties means Spain will be forced to shoot. — Craig Burley (@CBurleyESPN) July 1, 2018 Hello, you can release De Gea's Family now#ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/JZM15qbJws — Not Your X (@Thexzaminer) July 1, 2018 Russia’s Coach reaction cause that kick save also saved him from Putin’s firing squad 👀#ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/1HwmFZjbZr — Armani (@armani_salado) July 1, 2018<doc-sep>Newly-crowned Stanley Cup winner Alexander Ovechkin will attend the Russia-Spain match in Moscow to cheer for the national team in the absence of President Vladimir Putin at the game. Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia’s head of state would not attend the game due to a busy work schedule. READ MORE: Russia players issue '12th man' call to fans ahead of historic World Cup meeting with Spain (VIDEO) The Washington Capitals star, who returned to Moscow last week, shared an Instagram story on Saturday confirming that he will go to Luzhniki Stadium to watch Russia’s historic last 16 game against the 2010 world champions. “Tomorrow I will be rooting for our team,” Ovechkin said, showing his Fan ID. Last month, Ovechkin, 32, played a crucial role in helping his team beat the Vegas Golden Knights in hockey’s Stanley Cup Finals, claiming the franchise’s first ever NHL championship. READ MORE: Washington Capitals win 1st Stanley Cup in franchise history, defeating Vegas 4-3 Russia got off to a strong start at the 2018 World Cup, winning its first two games against Saudi Arabia and Egypt. A disappointing 3-0 defeat to Uruguay was not enough to deny Stanislav Cherchesov’s men a spot in the knock-out stage – the first ever for Russia.<doc-sep>
President Vladimir Putin told Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov nobody was going to judge his team if they lost to Spain in the World Cup last 16 on Sunday — a match they improbably won. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after Russia knocked the 2010 champions out on penalties in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium that Putin — who watched the game on TV — had not put any pressure on the team to win. “Before the match, around noon, the president called the coach and wished him well,” Russian news agencies quoted Peskov as saying. SEE ALSO: Boateng defends underfire Ozil, rules out Germany retirement “He said that under Cherchesov’s leadership, our guys have already accomplished the impossible — made it out of the group,” said Peskov. “Putin also noted that regardless of the outcome of the match, no one in our country was going to judge them.” Putin is inextricably linked with this year’s tournament after helping win hosting rights in a disputed FIFA vote in 2010. Russia then spent a record $13 billion giving many of the 11 host cities their first major facelifts since the Soviet Union’s collapse. But Putin’s decision not to personally attend Russia’s first World Cup knockout game in the post-Soviet era fed suspicions that the Kremlin believed the team would lose. Russia and Spain finished extra time with the score at 1-1. Goalkeeper and captain Igor Akinfeev saved two spot kicks as Russia came out on top 4-3 in the penalty shootout. Russia will face the winner of Sunday’s later last-16 match between Croatia and Denmark. Peskov did not say whether Putin planned to attend the quarter-final. (AFP)