Spain’s famed ‘tiki-taka’ play put viewers to sleep at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, as they clocked up more than a 1000 passes but were unable to progress to the quarter-finals.
The 2010 champions saw a lot of the ball as compared to their opponents Russia, who completed just 191 passes in 120 minutes of regulation and extra time. Yet it was La Roja going home after a tense penalty shoot-out, which they lost 3-4 after Iago Aspas and Koke missed their spot-kicks. Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was the hero for the home team, saving both the kicks.
For the majority of the match, Spain looked in control, yet Sergei Ignashevich’s 12th-minute own goal was the only breakthrough that they could manage. Artem Dyzuba’s penalty dragged Russia back into it in the 41st minute as the hosts equalised before half-time.
This match also witnessed history as Russia became the first team in World Cups to make four substitutions. New rules stated that a fourth change could be made by team, should matches not be decided in 90 minutes.
Aleksandr Erokhin coming on for the home team became the first-ever 4th substitute, and Twitter had a laugh about it, proclaiming that the substitution was more interesting than the game itself.
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