Spain vs Russia

Spain- Winning Group B on goals scored as the tiebreaker, Spain had a major shakeup right before the tournament began with manager Julen Lopetegui sacked after accepting the post of Real Madrid manager. With Lopetegui largely credited with turning the Spanish fortunes around after an underperforming few years, the team is now led by former Real Madrid defender Fernando Hierro. The team beat Iran while tying Portugal and Morocco using the same lineup and tactics as they had under Lopetegui. Their back line has often been slow to react, with Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos beaten at crucial times. Their midfield, however, is strong, with Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Isco controlling the center of the field. La Roja have struggled up front, with Diego Costa inconsistent at times and no suitable replacement available on the roster.

Russia- With the host country starting the tournament with a 5-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia, they beat Egypt before losing to Uruguay 3-0. After losing their last 10 matches before the tournament, more was made of Russia’s victories than the competition they played in the group. The Achilles heel for the Russian squad is its aging defense, with most of their back line well over the age of 30. The Golden Eagles also lack the international exposure that Spain possesses, with the Spanish squad playing for some of the top clubs in Europe.

Prediction- While host country Russia are playing in front of their home fans, it won’t be enough to stave off a polished Spanish squad, who will control the pace and possession of the game. Spain will advance with a 2-0 win, but at least the Russian players won’t have a long to trek to return home.