Russia Through to Quarter-Finals

In the second set of games in the Second Round or Round of 16, host nation RUSSIA, runners-up in Group A with 4 votes took on SPAIN winners of Group B with 24 votes. Russia had won their first two opening games with ease but Lost their last game to Uruguay. Spain won against Iran but drew with Portugal on their opening game. They also drew with Morocco in their last game in round one which was a shock. The game started well with both teams trying to win the game but Spain received a free kick just outside the Russian box and the ball hit a Russian defender and into their goal to Spain in the 12^th minute. Russia did respond to the goal and had a hand-ball awarded to them in the 41^st minute. The penalty was well taken by Dzyuba. The result was 1-1 at half-time. In the second half the Spanish pushed the ball around but failed to break down the Russian defence even though they had 90% of possession. The Spanish had their attacks successfully broken down and Russia had an attack now and then. The Russians seemed to want penalties and by the end of full time it remained 1-1. We then went into extra time for the first time in this tournament but nothing seemed to change between the two teams. Penalties came next and Russia won 4-3 which means for the first time since 1970. This was a very disappointing game from the Spanish. Russia were in the quarter-finals. Russia are now on a total of 9 goals. The shock of another big nation going out of the competition means that this World Cup could be any-ones. Spain finished on a total of 7 goals which is better than Brazil 2014 where they never made the second round and they finished on a total of 4 goals which is their lowest total to date. Spain last won the World Cup in 2010.

In the other game of the day, DENMARK runner-up in Group C with one vote played Croatia winners of Group D. Denmark won their first game against Australia but then drew their other two games. Croatia had won all of their three opening games in the group stages. The Danes went into an early lead through a goal by M Jorgensen within a minute of play. Croatia came back to equalise three minutes later through Mandzukic. 1-1 and we did not have played five minutes yet. This score remained at half-time 1-1 and it was a much better game of the day. In the second half, the drama was still going on with both teams committed to winning this game. But it remained 1-1 at full time and for the second time in this round, extra time was played. It was still 1-1 after the first half of extra time had been played but in the second half, Denmark gave a way a penalty but it was saved in the dying minutes of extra time by Leicester's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. So once again we come to a penalty shoot-out. In which Croatia won 3-2. Denmark are our tenth nation to leave the World Cup. They have finished on a total of 3 goals which was the same amount as from the 2010 South Africa where they failed to win a group placing.  Croatia will play RUSSIA in the quarter-finals on 7^th July.