WORLD CUP 2018 | SPAIN ELIMINATED BY RUSSIA ON PENALTY SHOOT OUT

SPAIN was eliminated this afternoon by RUSSIA losing 3 - 4 on penalties after extra-time & with a 1 - 1 draw at the end. Spanish players Koke & Aspas missed their penalties while goalkeeper De Gea did not stop any penalties from the Russians. Sad moment for Spanish Football as an "inferior" team managed to knock Spain out of the World Cup, but Russia played well their limited cards looking to take the game onto penalties where things get even & remain wide open. Congratulations to Russia.

Spain dominated the entire match controlling the ball with all moments of pure "boredom" as the objective - to score goals - was never clear. Spain only had a hand full of shots at the Russian goal during 130 mins & this is practically "anti Football" with no effectiveness, no goal. This is precisely the problem of Spain during this tournament & past years, the team has difficulties scoring goals. Most of the scored occasions for Spain during their World Cup participation have been rebounds or lucky spill overs with forwards out of the count. 

Even today´s only goal for Spain was an own goal by Ignashevich (11th min) after a tussle with defender Sergio Ramos. The Russian equalizer was a penalty scored by Dzyuba (41st min) after defender Pique hand balled.The rest of the summary was all Spain, all Spanish ball domination & null goal opportunities & without goals you cannot win. Below is the technical card summary:

Spain will now fly home tomorrow & rethink the future. Current selector Fernando Hierro will certainly not continue as he too showed signs of inexperience although he was brave to take on the position after the "erroneous" sacking of Julen Lopetegui. Inietsa & Pique leave the Spanish team & veterans like Ramos & Silva are close to calling it a day in coming years. Spain will have to rejuvenate & look forward to the Euro Championships 2020.

So goodbye, Spain will not be missed from the World Cup because they never really played well in all of their 4 matches, with perhaps Portugal being their best moments. But the team started badly, key players not at their best moments, poor decisions by Coach Hierro & the lack of goal or effectiveness upfront to win matches. In the end looked at things rationally Spain was "lucky" to get as far as they did.  

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RUSSIA 3 - SPAIN 3 | INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY GAME RESULT

SPAIN played tonight in  St. Petersburg RUSSIA in an International Friendly match which finished in a 3 - 3 draw result. Different match to last Saturdays Costa Rica friendly with more experiments, a more enthusiastic opponent & suffered encounter, especially towards the end of the game. A good sparring experience that should keep the Spanish Football Team humble enough with their upcoming World Cup 2018 planification. 

SPAIN started well & looked strong with their usual good Football style. They scored early in the 8th min & was 0 - 2 up by the 35th min. However, Russia begin to find their place & exploited the Spanish midfield & defensive errors. Smolov managed Russia´s first before half time.

The second half saw how both teams did some chances & tested out players which broke up the tactical scheme, this allowed spaces & goal opportunities for both teams. Russia equalized but Spain scored another to put them back ahead, to later see Russia again equalize. Russia managed the upper hand late in the match & nearly converted a late opportunity which was stopped by Spanish goalie De Gea. 

Tonight´s goals & goalscoreres:

• Jordi Alba 8th min, 0 - 1
• Sergio Ramos 35th min, 0 - 2
• Smolov 40th min, 1 - 2
• Miranchuk 50th min, 2 - 2
• Sergio Ramos 52nd min, 2 - 3
• Smolov 69th min, 3 - 3

Spain starting 11:

De Gea, Nacho, Piqué, Ramos, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Thiago, Iniesta, Suso, Asensio & Rodrigo.

Later changes:

Vitolo, Saul, Callejon, Moreno, Illaramendi & Silva.

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RUSSIA 2018 | SPAIN IN GROUP G WITH ITALY | FIFA WORLD CUP

FIFA celebrated this evening the Group match-ups for the upcoming Russia 2018 World Cup. Spain has been matched with Italy, Albania, Isreal, Macedonia & Liechtenstein in Group G.

Full Group match-up in the European section: 

Group A- Luxemburg, Belarus, Bulgaria, Sweden, France, Holland

Group B- Andorra, Latonia, Feroe Is, Hungary, Switzerland, Portugal

Group C- San Marino, Azerbaijan, Norway, Nth Ireland, Czech Rep, Germany

Group D- Georgia, Moldavia, Ireland, Serbia, Austria, Wales

Group E- Kazakhstan, Armenia, Montenegro, Poland, Denmark, Rumania

Group F- Malta, Lithuania, Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, England

Group G - Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Israel, Albania, Italy, Spain

Group H- Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Bosnia, Belgium

Group I- Finland, Turkey, Ukraine, Island, Croatia

World Cup Russia 2018 Group Qualifiers dates:

Round 1

4 - 6 Sep. 2016

Round 2

6 - 8  Oct. 2016

Round 3

9 - 11 Oct. 2015

Round 4

11 - 13  Nov. 2016

Round 5

24 - 26  Mar. 2017

Round 6

9 - 11  Jun. 2017

Round 7

31 Ag. - 2  Sept. 2017

Round 8

3 - 5  Sept. 2017

Round 9

5 - 7  Oct. 2017

Round 10

8 - 10  Oct. 2017

Best 2º placed qualifiers

Home

9 - 11  Nov. 2017

Away

12 - 14 - Nov. 2017

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SPAIN 1 RUSSIA 0 | UEFA U-21 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP RESULT

The Spanish U-21 National Team & current U-21 European Champions began the defence of their title this afternoon in their opening Group match of the UEFA U-21 European Championships in Israel. Their opponents were Russia & the Spanish team managed to win 1 - 0. The Group is a difficult one with Germany & Holland also involved & a win with the three points was very important for Spain.

There was "opening game" nerves but Spain began to take control as the match went on. The Russians was solid in defence & played the counter-attacking card which frustrated the Spaniards most of the encounter. 

Mid second-half Spain changed midfielder Muniain for a forward in Morata & this gave Spain a reference point that added alternatives & gave options up front. In the 82nd min a free kick from Thiago found the head of Morata that put Spain ahead & eventually turned out to be the winner.

The MVP was awarded to Spanish & Malaga FC midfieder Isco who was very good, with a special mention also from my part to Thiago Alcantara who was solid & commanding, both holding the midfield. 

Match details:

SPAIN- 1:
De Gea; Montoya, Bartra, Iñigo Martínez, Alberto Moreno; Illarramendi; Tello, (Koke, min 84), Isco, Thiago, Muniain (Morata, minuto 63) & Rodrigo (Canales, min. 77)
RUSSIA - 0:
Zabotolini; Chicherin, Burlak, Belyaev, Schennikov; Tsallagov (Kirillov, min. 79); Bibilov (Grigoryev min. 46), Shatov, Petrov, Yahoovlev & Cheryshev (Kanunnikov, minuto 58)

GOALS:1-0; Morata min. 82

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SPAIN 3 RUSSIA 1 | U-21 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

The Spanish National U-21 Football Team managed to turn around their International Friendly warm-up game against Russia winning 3 - 1. This was the last "dress rehearsal" for Spain before the upcoming European U-21 Championships in June.

A very competitive Russian team gave a great workout for the Spaniards that sway the balance their way in the second half with goals from Muniain & Thiago. Earlier in the 1ºst half Rodrigo opened that scoring for Spain but Yakolev equalized just minutes into the second half after a bad mistake by Spanish goalie Mariño. 

Match starting line-ups & details:

Spain: Mariño; Montoya, Bartra (Amat, 73’), Nacho (Íñigo Martínez, 55’), Alberto (Muniesa, 73’); Camacho (Illarra, 46’), Thiago; Deulofeu (Muniain, 46’), Canales (Koke, 55’), Sarabia (Tello, 46’); & Rodrigo (Álvaro Vázquez, 55’)

Russia: Zabolotny (Filtsov, 55’); Tsallagov, Chicherin, Burlak, Schennikov; Zotov, Petrov, Kirillov (Sosnin, 67’); Yakovlev, Kanunnikov (Bezlikhotnov, 84’) & Cheryshev (Panyukov, 46’) .

Goals: 1-0 (38’) Rodrigo. 1-1 (49’) Yakovlev 2-1 (70’) Muniain. 3-1 (92'+) Thiago (p.)

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