Spain’s shock Cup loss
Host into quarters after win
SPAIN’S dramatic defeat by Russia on penalties in the World Cup round of 16 ensured that at least one of this year’s finalists will not have reached the title decider for half a century, if at all.
Russia reached the quarterfinals with a 4-3 shootout win over Spain, with the game locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 120 minutes.
England, which played its one final when it won the title in 1966, and Sweden, which lost to Brazil on home soil in the 1958 final, are still in the half of the draw vacated by the 2010 champion after its loss to the host.
The odds on England winning the World Cup for a second time were cut after Russia’s victory, making it third favourite behind France and Brazil.
Croatia’s victory over Denmark, in another penalty shootout later on Sunday, kept it alive, joining England as the most likely winner from the weaker side of the draw.
The Croatians were less impressive in Nizhny Novgorod than in their earlier group matches, but managed to account for the Danes 3-2 on penalties after the scores were level at 1-1.
However, they will be fancied to match their best previous showing of a semi-finals spot in 1998 when they meet Russia in Saturday’s quarterfinal in Sochi.
The Russians will be hoping to continue to benefit from the hosts’ dividend to better the single semi-final appearance that the Soviet Union achieved in 1966. Switzerland, which has never done better than the spot in the last eight it achieved as host in 1954, takes on Sweden today in Saint Petersburg.
The winner will go on to face England or Colombia.
The South Americans, whose best finish was their run to the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago, take on the English in the last round of 16 match later the same night in Moscow.
The last addition to the elite group of 12 nations which have contested World Cup finals was Spain, when it won the title for the first time in 2010.
France, the 1998 winner, beat Argentina to reach the quarter-finals on Saturday and is in the other half of the draw with fellow former champions Brazil and Uruguay, the three nations having competed in 11 finals between them.