• Spain and Russia are tied, 1-1, at halftime. Spain scored on a Russia own goal early on, but the host team roared back to equalize with a penalty goal in the 41st minute of this World Cup knockout match.
• Refresh here for live World Cup updates and analysis from Russia.
• What happened? Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were eliminated on Saturday.
How to watch: In the U.S., Fox and Telemundo have the broadcast at 10 a.m. ET, but you can stream it here.
52’: Spain More Aggressive
Spain is looking more direct this half, sending balls into the box that they probably would’ve held onto in the first half. This time, Asensio lofts one into the box, but Russia’s defense intercepts.
50’: Free Kick for Spain
Aleksandr Golovin is whistled for a foul by Bjorn Kuipers. Free kick for Spain. Koke sends it in, and Spain gets a head on it, but nowhere near goal.
50’: Will Spain Attack?
For Russia, the plan is simple: Keep doing what they’re doing. For Spain, the decision is much harder: When, if ever, do they try something new? Spain has always been supremely confident in sticking to their game plan, assuming the goal is coming eventually. But they could go more direct to Diego Costa, or bring players like Andres Iniesta, Thiago or Iago Aspas off the bench.
48’: Spain Changes Strategy
Spain immediately on the attack, with Isco doing most of the hard work. The ball eventually skips to a wide open Jordi Alba, but it’s at an awkward height and he’s only able to thrust a quadricep at it.
46’: Russia Makes a Change
We are underway! Russia has brought Vladimir Granat on for Yury Zhirkov.
Russia stays in the 5-4-1 though. No change in formation.
Halftime: Spain 1, Russia 1
Spain and Russia go into the half all even 1-1, as the World Cup of strange goals continues. Spain’s came on a free kick own goal, while Russia’s was from a yellow card after a hand ball in the box.
Spain has dominated possession but failed to generate many chances, while Russia has sat back and looked to score on the counter.
Andrew Das: Spain must be kicking itself for not pressing harder for a second goal before halftime. They were in total control, and Russia was willing to lie back and take whatever they did. But content in possession, Spain was happy to play keepaway — a winning strategy unless, you know, you somehow give up the tying goal and let the hosts and the crowd roar back to life.
Now Russia will probably go into the locker room thinking, “You know .......”
45+2’: Russian Counterattack Fizzles
The half ends with a Diego Costa header and a Russian counterattack, but neither amount to anything.
45’: Spain Finally Takes a Shot
In the final minute of the first half, Spain takes their first shot. It’s from Marco Asensio outside the box, and it is blocked.
43’: Spain’s Shaky Defense
Spain’s defense has been uncharacteristically error-prone this World Cup, but at some point it stops being uncharacteristic and is simply the reality of the situation: David de Gea’s fumbled shot in the opener, Ramos and Iniesta’s miscommunication against Morocco and now Pique’s hand ball for a goal here.
41’: GOAL! Russia Equalizes
Artem Dzyuba slams the ball into the corner as de Gea dives the wrong way. The Moscow stadium sounds defeaning.
Strange arguments from Spain over the peanlty: Pique rose with his arm over his head. Even with his back turned, that’s an unnatural position that’s indefensible when he got an advantage from it. The score is even, though the game surely has not been.
GOOOOOL!! Dzyuba buries the penalty to level the game! #ESPRUS #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xbFKaf7yew
— World Cup (@FlFAWC2018) July 1, 2018
40’: Penalty!
Penalty kick for Russia! Big Artem Dzyuba rose highest on the corner kick, and headed the ball off of Gerard Pique’s arm, which was sticking up straight in the air.
39’: Russia Takes Control
All of a sudden Russia is on the front foot, and Spain’s defense looks unorganized. Russian corner coming up.
36’: Chance Russia!
Sergio Ramos was unable to deal with a high ball, eventually giving Aleksandr Golovin a shot from 15 yards out, but he curls the ball wide of a diving David de Gea and wide of the post.
32’: Spain Spreads Out
Spain is really trying to stretch Russia out, with Jordi Alba and Nacho practically stuck to the sidelines, and Sergio Ramos pinging balls from sideline to sideline.
30’: Russian Attack Falters
Russia is stringing some passes together on the right side, dangerous enough that Diego Costa was back in defense. But it ultimately results in nothing.
28’: Russia Should Go to the Air
If Russia can get some high balls into the box, they would seemingly have an advantage. Forward Artem Dzyuba is enormous, and outside of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique, Spain doesn’t really have height or physicality at the back.
Andrew Das: The crowd is turning on Spain’s possession now, whistling as they just toy with the Russians. But Russia isn’t doing much to change the game here, either. Current pass count on that last stoppage: Spain 231, Russia 58. It’s going to get worse.
25’: Isco Looks for an Opening
Isco sends a nice ball through the Russian defense, but it’s about one step ahead of Jordi Alba. Goal kick.
24’: Spain’s Defense Holds
Ilya Kutepov sends a dangerous cross into the box, but Spain intercepts.
22’: Spain Leads Without Taking a Shot
Russia’s defense is actually performing quite well. Spain has yet to take a shot, and haven’t really had any dangerous chances except for the free kick. Too bad that free kick resulted in a goal.
20’: More Possession for Spain
According to FIFA, Spain has had 75 percent of the possession. That seems low.
17’: Now Russia Must Push
At some point Russia will have to open up in search of a tying goal, but when will that be? Probably not until the second half.
14’: Russia Gets a Chance
Roman Zobnin sees an opening and takes it from mid-range. His shot sails over the bar.
12’: GOAL! Spain Leads
Sergio Ramos was defended 1-on-1 at the back post on the free kick, and it looked like he managed to get a foot on the ball while practically being tackled.
On replay, that will be ruled a Sergey Ignashevich own goal. Ramos was swinging at it, but the ball ultimately bounced off the back of Ignashevich’s leg and in. I suppose the lesson here is to not turn your back to the ball while tackling the attacker on a free kick. That’s the second own goal for Russia in this tournament.
Ramos goal or an own goal? Either way, #ESP lead the hosts in Moscow. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/dqwKmmj8h8
— TheSportMatrix (@TheSportMatrix) July 1, 2018
Andrew Das: Ramos will claim that goal, scored while he and Ignashevich fell together at the back post. Tough break — Ignashevich knew nothing of it — but fair for Spain, which has dominated so far. That’s the 10th own goal of the tournament by the way, a World Cup record. Far and away the leader for the Golden Boot.
10’: Free Kick for Spain
Yuri Zhirkov’s rough challenge draws a foul from the referee Bjorn Kuipers. Spain will have a dangerous free kick from the wing, as soon as Nacho gets some treatment for taking studs in the leg.
7’: Spain Keeps Possession
So far the game is playing to type. Spain has all of the possession and is attempting to unlock the Russian defense with quick movement and passing, while the one time Russia got the ball they made a break for it and earned a corner.
Andrew Das: Spain in complete control in the first 10 minutes, just passing the ball back and forth, around and around, and probing that back five when there’s a chance. When Russia does break, the crowd roars, and Golovin even won a corner at one point. But Russia did nothing with it, and we’re right back to Spain on the ball. The possession stats are going to be wildly lopsided today
5’: Zhirkov Fires First
Yuri Zhirkov grabs a rebound and lets one fly from long range. Spain gets a body on it. No threat.
3’: Russia Heavy in the Back
Russia has an ultra-defensive setup. They are starting 5 defenders at the back, and their breakout star of this World Cup, Denis Cheryshev, is on the bench. He started the tournament on the bench, but came into the first game early after Alan Dzagoev’s injury.
Andrew Das: Russia is playing five across the back today, with the 38-year-old Sergey Ignashevich holding down the center. Diego Costa already has set up shop in his living room.
3’: Spain Probing
Jordi Alba tries to take it himself for Spain, but Russia’s defense deals with him him quickly.
Kickoff!
We are underway! Spain is in red, hosts Russia are in white, and 80,000 fans are in Luzhniki Stadium to cheer them on.
Andrew Das: Today’s referee is a veteran Dutchman, Bjorn Kuipers. He’ll know the Spanish players from European games.
Spain vs. Russia: The History
Russia has never beaten Spain. The last time they met, these two played to a 3-3 draw in a 2017 friendly.
Russia’s Ready
It rained hard in Moscow overnight, but the sun has been out since noon (kickoff is 5 p.m. local time) and it’s a steamy 77 degrees as kickoff approaches. Often the goalkeepers come out first for pregame warmups, but Russia roared out of the tunnel as one today. They know this could be it.
• The World Cup group stage always has a few surprises, before the favorites reassert themselves in the knockout rounds. Will that hold this year?
Russia Leaves Cheryshev Out
The biggest surprise in Russia’s lineup is the dropping of Denis Cheryshev. That has to sting; he plays at Villarreal in La Liga, but has lived most of his life in Spain, joining Real Madrid’s academy at age 12. At yesterday’s prematch news conference, he answered nearly all the queries in perfect Spanish. Oh, and he’s scored three goals for Russia in this World Cup.
Are you sitting comfortably for #ESPRUS?
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
All you need is right here
TV listings https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO
Live Blog https://t.co/n1njWkrDrf #ESP @FIFAWorldCupESP#RUS @FIFAWorldCupRUS pic.twitter.com/W2supoXlbh
Russia’s Starting Lineup
1 Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow)
2 Mario Fernandes (CSKA Moscow)
3 Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow)
4 Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow)
7 Daler Kuzyaev (Zenit St Petersburg)
13 Fedor Kudryashov (Rubin Kazan)
17 Aleksandr Golovin (CSKA Moscow)
18 Yuri Zhirkov(Zenit St Petersburg)
19 Aleksandr Samedov (Spartak Moscow)
22 Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula)
Spain Mixes It Up
Spain’s lineup makes three changes from its last game, against Morocco. Carvajal, Thiago and Iniesta are all out, while Nacho, Koke, Asensio are in. The biggest surprise is Ineista, but perhaps that signals they expect a fast pace. Asensio, who takes his place, is 12 years younger.
Spain’s Starting Lineup
1 David de Gea (Manchester United)
3 Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
4 Nacho (Real Madrid)
5 Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
8 Koke (Atletico Madrid)
15 Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
18 Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
19 Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
20 Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)
21 David Silva (Manchester City)
22 Isco (Real Madrid)
The ‘Easy’ Side of the Bracket
This is considered to be the easier side of the bracket. The winner would face the Croatia vs. Denmark winner, and the most dangerous team lurking for a hypothetical semifinal matchup would be ... England? Colombia? Pretournament favorites like Brazil, Argentina and France are all on the other side of the bracket.
Spain vs. Russia Top Story Lines
• Spain’s attack is just fine — only four teams scored more goals in the group stage than Spain’s six. It is their defense that is the problem, as the five goals they’ve conceded is tied for the most of any team that advanced to the knockout round. Statistics site WhoScored named both David de Gea and Sergio Ramos flops of the group stage.
• Spain won Group B on the back of three shaky performances, drawing Portugal and Morocco, and beating Iran 1-0 in unconvincing fashion.
Graphic
World Cup 2018 Bracket: The 16 Teams in the Knockout Round
Teams and schedule for the knockout stage.
• Russia was flying high through their first two group stage matches, with two victories and eight goals. Then they got pummeled 3-0 by Uruguay, and everybody remembered their opponents, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, weren’t exactly heavyweights. Still, qualifying for the knockout round for the first time since the days of the Soviet Union is a good achievement for the host nation.
• Both Diego Costa and Cheryshev are outside contenders for the Golden Boot, with three goals apiece. They’ll have to overtake England’s Harry Kane, who has five.
• Diego Costa, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Isco and Sergio Busquets started in each of Spain’s group stage matches, but the final midfield spot is up for grabs, with Koke, Lucas Vazquez and Thiago each having started in one. Who will manager Fernando Hierro start against Russia?
• Yesterday’s matches combined for 10 goals, the most on a single day of a knockout round since 1970. Let’s hope there are even more today.
Interactive Feature
Spot the Ball
We’ve pulled some photos from group stage games and made one very important change — we removed the ball. See if you can guess where it was.
Some Pregame Reading
• The World Cup group stage always has a few surprises, before the favorites reassert themselves in the knockout rounds. Will that hold this year?
• Get to know Fernando Hierro, the man who was named manager of Spain just days before the World Cup began.
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