WC2018 Match 51: Spain-Russia 1 July 2018

Pichi · Jun 27, 2018

Spain winners in Group B will be taking on host Russia who were runner ups in Group A on Sunday 1 July at 1000 hrs EDT, 0700 hrs. PDT in Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium. The game will be televised here in the US on Fox Sports and Telemundo. The winner of this match will play in match 59 on Saturday 7 July at 1400 hrs EDT, 1100 hrs PDT against the match 52 (Croatia-Denmark) winner.

Aupa Espanha y La Furia Roja.

meringues · Jun 27, 2018

Lucky to win the group, maybe even lucky to be here. I hope these 3 games have been a wakeup call.

Pichi · Jun 28, 2018

Before the WC started I had said that Spain would make it through the group stage and would get as far as the QF's before going home and enjoying some beach action. That being said the way their side of the bracket is lining up (no Germany, No Argentina, and for now no Belgium) they could go farther, but it all depends on their shoddy defense and if they are able to step up their defensive display. They should be Russia easily on paper, but they are the home team and it's any ones guess how the defense will play on Sunday. Taking a look farther down the road, if La Furia does get by Russia, then it is Croatia/Denmark in the QF's and if they survive that match it would be any of these four teams Colombia/England-Sweden/Switzerland in the semi's. I had to laugh that Rubiales said no player on the NT would be rated less than excellent at this point of the WC. What the hell is he smoking?

Oscar · Jun 28, 2018

We really lucked out by that Iran penalty against Portugal.

The way we've been playing, any of the teams on our bracket can knock us out. However even with our bad form we have a chance against Russia as well. We don't need our A game right away like an Uruguay match would have been. Which gives us time to get back some form and/or make changes to the team (if we qualify)

The biggest quality hurdle would be the game afterwards against most likely Croatia, who have been one of the best playing teams this WC so far. We already had a lot of problems against them 4 years ago (or was it the Euro?) and they don't look any worse this year.

This Spain is the same group of players who have been undefeated the last 2 years, also having played against big teams, and showing some good football along the way. My hope is we get the time to grow out of this slump. Because a Spain in form can beat any team I've seen so far, however a Spain like in the last 2 games can obviously be beaten by any of them.

unclesox · Jul 1, 2018

Asensio to start!

🚨 OFICIAL | ¡ONCE DE ESPAÑA! ¡Estos son los elegidos!

Queremos sentir tu aliento en Moscú, tu apoyo... ¡No importan los kilómetros!
¡CONTAMOS CONTIGO!💪🏻

¡VAMOS, ESPAÑA!💪🏻🇪🇸#HagamosQueOcurra #Rusia2018 pic.twitter.com/LBSJFuOwwH
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 1, 2018

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

Nacho apart from the penalty actually had a good game against Portugal, I liked him better than carvajal in the last 2 matches. So I get that change. Same with Koke, I thought his performance was good and he's a plus in our mid.

We need more goal scoring potentials, and Asensio is more that than either Silva or Iniesta.

unclesox · Jul 1, 2018

Russia...

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

Vamos!

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

Damn these 0700 KO's here on the west coast on a Sunday do wonders for sleep! Aupa Espanha y La Furia Roja!

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

Aspas would have reached that ball.

Silva has lost every ball so far it seems

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

Let's see if the Furia can keep that streak going from yesterday where all the group winners won their KO match against the runner ups!

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

gOL!! Ramos header from a fk

edit: let's wait what VAR says

edit edit: and it was an own goal, not Ramos

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

I guess he's making amends for his poor play against Morocco!

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

Should have been a penalty if it wasn't a goal as well, hopefully that Russian does the same at every corner/fk

unclesox · Jul 1, 2018

First goal ever scored by Spain against the host country in either World Cup or EURO... and it's an own goal.
Who cares. I'll take it!

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

TIki Taka as Spain has had 75% possession so far in the match.

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

Madre mia!!

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

Pique again

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

It's a 100% penalty, why is his arm in the air like that other than to stop any ball from coming through. Dumbass. Get him out of the field already.

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

At least we're looking to score again instead of passing it around on their side of the field without any intention to create a chance

Oscar · Jul 1, 2018

What was that Russian sniffing before he came in?

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

it makes me wonder when Hierro will bring on a sub. Silva has been pretty much AWOL this match and except for a few instances the entire WC

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

How many tries does it take to get the ball out of your own box!!

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

Vamos Furia!!

Pichi · Jul 1, 2018

30 minutes to go 1-1 and La Furia Roja has 71% of possession and only 3 shots on target!