Russia 1 (Anem Dzuba 1: Spain 1 (Suicide Goal by Sergio Ignasevich)
Tie Breaker: Russia 4: Spain 3
Fairy tale of FIFA World Cup 2016 continues as another Pretournament favorite winner of 2010 World Cup Spain got knocked out by host Russia 4-3 in the first match to be decided on tie breaker .The full time score was 1-1
Eight teams have won the title in the 20 previous world cups. Italy the four times winners failed to qualify for Russia world cup. German, four times winners bowed out in the first round. Argentina two times winners fell yesterday and with Spain gone today Brazil (5), Uruguay (2), France (1) and England (1) are surviving.
Who knows what can happen tomorrow and day after in this very wide open world cup when even soccer pundits no longer dare predicting. This writer is following World Cup football for 56 years since 1962. Believe me have not seen or heard of so many dramas, so many upsets. Good to see that these days there is no major or minor teams in World Cup.
When groups were drawn Group A with Uruguay, Russia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia was tagged as the easiest of the groups. The group B of Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Iran was thought as one of the group of death. Uruguay and Russia won the group. True that group B was group of death. But two stronger teams Spain and Portugal some how managed advancing. Portugal and Spain now have been knocked out by the winners of Group A Uruguay and Russia Portugal is the current European champions and Spain won the World Cup 2010.
No soccer pundit gave Russians any chance and all thought Russians could not qualify the rigors of qualification from tight Europe Groups. But they started sparking from the opening match thumping Saudi Arabia 5-0. Their red hot form continued against Morocco as well whom they beat 3-0. But flying Russians were grounded by Uruguay in the last match of the group beating them 3-0.
Spain with some top players in the line up was clear favorites. 10th FIFA ranked team appearing against 70th ranked team perhaps was complacent a bit. The full time score was 1-1. Russia digested an early own goal as early as 12th minutes when Sergei Ignasevich put the ball in their own net trying to clear it. Egged on by cheering home crowd Russians went all out for equalizer.
Spain despite of many lightening moves failed to widen the margin. Russian Goal keeper proved impregnable. Russians got a penalty in the 41st minute. Artyn DZyuba brought the well sought equalizer. No team could break the ice despite of all the toils till full time and 15+ 15 =30 minutes added time. For the first time in this tournament tie break was called in to play. There again Russian Goal Keeper the proud present generation of great Lev Yasin put Russians ahead. Russia lives to fight the quarterfinals. Spain goes home.
It was the fifth time in all five home team won tie breakers since Italy lost to Argentina in 1990 Semi Final. Russia has reached quarter final for the first time since USSR was disintegrated.
With the other match of the day Croatia and Denmark also decided in tie break it was day witnessing other pole of the event. 10 goals were scored in full time yesterday in two matches. Only four today in full time. What a fascinating world cup. Germany, Argentina, Spain and Portugal all have gone home.
BDST: 0949 HRS, JUL 2, 2018
SI
