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Decried before the start of "his" World Cup, Russia managed the incredible feat of eliminating Spain and all its stars in the round of 16 (1-1, 4-3 t.a.b.) to continue its adventure.
Driven by a delirious Luzhniki stadium, Igor Akinfeev achieved the feat at the best time. With two saves against Koke and Iago Aspas in the penalty shoot-out, the goalkeeper brought the "Sbornaya" to the closed circle of the eight best teams on the planet.
For Spain, domineering during the whole game, the defeat is cruel. Despite the pressure, a licked game that erodes match after match, and a defense more feverish than ever, Fernando Hierro thought he had done the hardest by finishing 1st in Group B by a mouse hole. But the Spanish "fireman", named two days before the start of the World Cup after sidelining Julen Lopetegui, will not take advantage of the most favorable game of the tournament.
For it is Russia that will face in the quarter-final Croatia, who came out on Sunday night from Denmark at the end of another penalty shoot-out (1-1, 3-2 tab
For the "Sbornaïa", which managed to stand up to the 2010 world champion until the end of the extra time, more than the nice course, totally unexpected before the start of its World Cup, it is especially the feeling of having made a whole country dominate proud.
For it was necessary to see the tens of thousands of Russian supporters who flocked to Luzhniki and surely the millions of others installed behind a television set in a cafe. Kaliningrad or Yekaterinburg, united by the same slogan: "Rossiya, Rossiya"!
– Dzyuba kept up the flame –
To succeed his bet, the coach Stanislav Cherchesov, who had chosen to pbad from Denis Cheryshev, former winger of Real Madrid and top Russian scorer of the World Cup (3 goals), had a specific plan in mind: to leave the ball to the "Roja" and go quickly against each recovery of the ball.
However, the plan almost failed, because Spain opened quickly the score on a goal against his camp Ignashevich (12th). Trapped by the wily Sergio Ramos, the Russian colossus saw the ball bounce on his heel and cheat Akinfeev, helpless.
Sounded and unable to carry out any pressing, the Russians have left the "tiki-taka" Spanish put quietly get in place. What to allow the "magician" Isco to make speak all his technique with gestures of clbad.
But the Russians, invigorated by a rolled wound of Golovin of little by side (36e), left the head of the water . Before equalizing on one of their rare occasions
Following a corner conceded by Koke under pressure, Dzyuba's head pushed Piqué to concede with one hand an indisputable penalty. The Russian striker does not tremble in front of De Gea (42nd), enough to make the Loujniki stadium sound louder!
– "We were waiting for the shots on the goal" –
Feeling the trap closing, the "Roja" decided to pack the rhythm in the second half, with the baton his joker and experienced man Andrés Iniesta, called in reinforcement (65th).
"Coaching" almost worked at the perfect moment: on a badly defended ball by the defense, the icon of FC Barcelona triggered a terrible shot repelled by Akinfeev (85th).
Beginning of the recital for the Russian goalkeeper. Corners and opportunities followed one another. Each time the Russian guard intervened. In regulation time, the term of which sounded like a first victory for the 78,011 spectators present, as during the prolongation.
Shots of Koke (94th), Asensio (100th), Piqué (105th), Iniesta (108th), and Rodrigo's big chances (110th, 120th) found Akinfeev on their way.
"We were waiting for the penalty shoot-out," said the Russian goalkeeper after the match. The game plan was perfect: Akinfeev did the rest!
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