WORLD CUP 2018: Spain vs Russia, LIVE

Spain are knocked out of the World Cup 2018 after losing 4-3 on penalties to Russia!
 

Aspas misses! Spain 3-4 Russia

Cheryshev scores! Spain 3-4 Russia

Ramos scores! Spain 3-3 Russia

Golovin scores! Spain 2-3 Russia

Koke misses! Spain 2-2 Russia

Ignashevich scores! Spain 2-2 Russia

Pique scores! Spain 2-1 Russia

Smolov to take the first penalty  for Russia And he scores. Spain 1-1 Russia

​​​Iniesta to take the first penalty! And he scores! Spain 1-0 Russia
 

FULL TIME: It's all equal even after 120 mins, which means it's time for penalty shootout!
 

120' + 1': Rodrigo has a go at the goal from the edge of the area, but it's easy for Akinfeev.
 

120': One minute added on!
 

117': Corner for Russia as they get a much needed breather. Golovin to swing the ball in the box. It's well defended by the Spain back line.
 

114': Another free kick for Spain on the left side. Koke swings the ball in the box, and Ramos is set to meet it with a header. But the Spain skipper is pulled down to the ground by Kutepov. The referee isn't interested in the penalty calls.
 

112': The Russian substitutes are asking the fans to keep on shouting for their team. Meanwhile Spain get a free kick and it's taken quick. Isco puts a lovely ball in the box, but again it's brilliantly defended by the Russian defense.
 

109': Great save by the keeper! Rodrigo shows unbelievable skill on the right to get past his defender. He keeps going on and reaches the box, and takes an effort from his right. But Akinfeev stands tall to make a great save. The ball then falls to Iniesta, who looks set to score. But another heroic block by a Russian defender.
 

107': Brilliant block! Iniesta finds space outside the box, and gets a shot away from his left foot. But it's brilliantly blocked by the defender.
 

HALF TIME: Spain 1-1 Russia
 

105' + 1': Spain get a free kick, which is taken by Koke. His delivery is good, but Pique can only manage to head it straight at Akinfeev.
 

105': One minute added on!
 

104': And the No.9 replaces Asensio, who hasn't had a great game.
 

103': Spain are preparing for a change. Rodrigo is all prepared to enter the field when the ball goes out next time.
 

100': Decent save! Aspas does well down the middle and plays the ball to Asensio. The talented youngster takes a touch and has a go at the goal from 25 yards out. It's straight at Akinfeev though.
 

97': Insane pressure by Spain as they keep passing the ball in front of the Russian defense. And when they feel they have a chance from the wing, the defense comes up good. Frustrated by this, Koke has a go from 35 yards out, but it's wayward. Meanwhile, Russia make their extra substitution. Kuzyayev is replaced by Yerokhin.
 

92': Good defending again by Russia! Isco plays a lovely through ball behind the defense for Aspas. The striker hesitates, and fails to play a cut back on time. When he does pass, the defense is there to clear it.
 

Full Time: First time in World Cup 2018 will we see extra time. Both the teams are equal even after 90 minutes.
 

90': Spain get a third consecutive corner after the Russian defense somehow manage to deal with Isco's ball. The resulting delivery is again taken by Isco, and Ramos meets it with a header. But it's wide. Four minutes added on!
 

89': It's taken short, and Isco tries to put the ball in the box. But it's deflected away for a corner. Koke takes the corner, and it's another one as Pique's header is blocked away.
 

88': Free kick for Spain midway in the Russian half on the right side after Isco is pulled down by Cheryshev.
 

85': Brilliant double save by Akinfeev! A cross from the left is chested down by Aspas towards Iniesta. The midfielder hits a crisp half volley from the edge of the area, but it is well saved by the Russian skipper. The ball then falls to Aspas, but his effort is also well stopped by Akinfeev.
 

80': Final change by Spain as they look to turn their possession into a goal. Aspas is brought in for the ineffective Costa.
 

76': It's all possession, no penetration for Spain at the moment. They are passing the ball around without causing the Russian defense much of a trouble.
 

71': Zobnin becomes another Russian player to get in the referee's book. He is given yellow card for his late challenge on Alba.
 

70': Second change by Spain. Nacho is replaced by his Real Madrid teammate Carvajal.
 

67': Spain bring on the 'Maestro' Iniesta in place of Silva.
 

65': And the hosts make their final change. Goal scorer Dzyuba goes off and Smolov comes in his place.
 

61': Russia make their first change as Samedov is replaced by Cheryshev.
 

60': Chance for Silva! Nacho puts a good ball in the box from the right, but Silva's header is wide.
 

58': And now Spain get a corner. They play some beautiful football around the area, and as Isco gets in the box, the defense thwarts his run.
 

57': Corner for Russia, conceded by Ramos under pressure from Samedov.
 

54': Kutepov gets a yellow card! The Russian defender intentionally pulls back Isco as he was making a forward run.
 

51': Spain get a free kick deep in the attacking half. Koke takes the set piece and puts a decent ball in the box. Costa meets it with a header, but it's way above.
 

47': Early chance in the second half for Spain! Asensio puts a ball in the box, and an onrushing Alba knees it towards the goal. But the looping effort is easily saved by Akinfeev.
 

Russia make a change. Zhirkov is replaced by Granat
 

HALF TIME: Spain 1-1 Russia
 

45' + 1': Good goalkeeping by Akinfeeev! He first thwarts Costa by rushing off his goal and stopping the striker from having a crack at goal. And then, he makes a comfortable save from his header.
 

45': Two minutes added on!
 

42': GOAL! Dzyuba converts from the penalty spot to make it 1-1.
 

40': PENALTY! The ball comes in the box, where Dzyiuba meets it with a header. It hits the hand of a backtracking Pique, and referee points to the spot. The defender also receives a yellow card for the offence.
 

39': Good play by Russia! They get the ball on the right side, and try to get a cross in. It's put out for a corner by the Koke.
 

36': Chance for Russia! Golovin gets the ball on the left flank and takes an effort on goal. His curler is just wide.
 

34': It's all Spain at the moment. They are dominating the ball, though, are finding it tough to break through a stubborn Russian defense.
 

27': Another corner for Russia, and a chance to put the ball in the box. They again try to play from the right side, but Busquets is there to stop the attack at the expense of a corner.
 

22': Free kick to Russia! Aknifeev boots the ball upfield, where Ramos challenges Dzyuba in the air, but fouls the striker.
 

18': So, the hosts have now fallen behind, and their game plan of holding Spain as long as possible is out of the window.
 

11': GOAL! Own goal by Russia. Asensio plays the ball in the box, and Sergei Ignashevich under the pressure of Ramos puts the ball in his own net.
 

10': Foul on the right side! Nacho. He is found by Isco, and as he tries to cut inside, but is fouled.
 

7': Barring that corner, Spain have had the possession early on.
 

4': First corner of the match goes to Russia after Zobnin goes on a run on the right side.
 

KICK OFF!
 

Here are the starting XI for both the teams. Spain have gone in without Carvajal and Iniesta. There is a first start for Asensio.
 

With Argentina and Portugal out of the competition, pressure will be on Spain to perform against the host nation Russia in the round of 16. The 2010 champions struggled in the group stage, and will be expecting a tough contest against the team playing in front of their own crowd. 

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The World Cup 2018 has arguably been one of the best ever. Only the fixture between France and Denmark witnessed a 0-0 draw, but the rest of the matches produced goals and excitement.

The introduction of VAR has brought a breath of fresh air to the tournament, though, it is still widely debated among many sectors. Group stage matches provided some really interesting moments and results.

Teams like Croatia, Mexico, Sweden and Uruguay took the tournament by storm with their performances. On the other hand, the favorites of the tournament, Argentina, Spain, Portugal looked far away from their best.

Germany, the defending champions, failed to qualify for the next round after finishing bottom of their group. It came as a major shock to the entire football world, and only added to the unpredictability World Cup can offer.

But that was group stage. Now, it's time for the knockout matches. The round of 16 begins with arguably the best fixture of the tournament. UEFA Euro 2016 finalists France take on World Cup 2014 finalists Argentina to kick off the knockout round.

It will be followed by another gruesome encounter as an out-of-sorts Portugal side take on Uruguay, who head into the tournament on the back of a perfect record in their group.

Having just scraped their way into the round of 16, Spain will play against the host nation Russia, and the fixture will definitely be hostile for the 2010 champions. Croatia and Brazil, despite topping their respective groups, have got tricky matches. They face Denmark and Mexico respectively.

Sweden and Switzerland take on each other in a nothing to lose match. Both the teams won't be expecting much from the tournament, hence, the possibility of either of them reaching quarter-finals is huge in its own rights.

Swashbuckling Belgium will take on a spirited Japan side, while the final match of the round of 16 will see a tough fixture between Colombia and England.