Russia 1 Spain 1
Croatia 1 Denmark 1
Extra time and penalties twice in one day?
Russia beat Spain 5-3 on penalties in Moscow.
Croatia somehow beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties in Nizhny Novgorod.
Croatia were completely outplayed by the highly organised and physical Danes.
But when Modric split their defence with a late wonderpass, Rebric was clattered by Jorgensen for a clear penalty.
Modric took the spot-kick but Kasper Schmeichel saved and that was when I thought Croatia would lose.
Still, it was nice to see the Funeral Of Tiki-Taka
Spain made 1,009 passes and scored one goal.
Clubs can play tiki-taka but nations shouldn’t.
Spainalona won three tournaments because they had the dynamism of Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and other non-Barca players who were world class.
In Russia, Spain chose to sack their manager Julen Lopetegui two days before the World Cup started and emergency replacement Fernando Hierro didn’t know what he was doing.
( Sid Lowe notes that Hierro, the national team’s sporting director : in 2016-17 he missed out in the second division play-offs with Real Oviedo. )
Spain never gave Diego Costa a long pass or a high ball, so he could not do anything. Then Hierro took Costa off!!!
They just passed the ball sideways and backwards and I was so disgusted I went for a walk before extra-time. Because I’d stopped caring.
Unfortunately, it was still 0-0 when I came back and the penalty shoot-out was about to start.
I thought Spain’s goal was a foul by Ramos.
Having seen six replays I still think that. The nearest defender, Ignashevich, suddenly turned round as the ball was coming over to the far post, Ramos grabbed him and threw him on the ground. And as they both fell the ball hit the defender on the leg and went in.
Free-kick to Russia surely? But the goal stood. The officials didn’t agree and you won’t either. But that’s how I saw it.
So Spain were 1-0 up in 12 minutes and I was really hoping they’d lose now.
When Pique missed a high cross he put his arm up and the ball hit the back of his arm and the ref gave a penalty in 42.
Correct decision! Pique panicked and handled deliberately.
Big Dzyuba waited for De Gea to move and banged in for 1-1.
At half-time Cesc Fabregas said, “It’s more like pass to defend than to attack. It should be the opposite.”
Russia feared losing, so they just sat and defended their penalty area and tried to go the distance. Spain were clueless and timid and made it a numbingly dull match. We had all waited two weeks to see knock-out football but this was soporific sideways football.
74% possession? Too much!
But possession is only the First Principle of Play. All football teams must remember the Second Principle (Support) and the Third ( Penetration).
No penetration = penalty shoot-out.
When Aspas took the 9th penalty for Spain, keeper Igor Akinfeev saved with his leg and Russia were in the quarter-final.
When I saw gambling guru John this morning the first thing he said was, “Brazil 3-1 and Belgium 3-0.”
My reply was, “Belgium are good enough to get to the final.”
My early Monday morning thoughts included a tune revolving in my head where Sheryl Crow was singing hope springs eternal.
But that’s not the line. That’s not what she sings :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCVM50hw2a8