Despite their tiki-taka style of soccer, Spain could do nothing but accept the fact that, in 120 minutes, beating Russia was beyond them. Therefore, the 2010 champions paid the price for a lack of a killer instinct in a game they dominated.
Unbelievably, the Russians reached the World Cup quarter-finals last night, holding their nerve in the penalty shoot-out that followed the all 1 draw. They won the shootout 4-3.
Spain's campaign seemed doomed from the onset considering that, three days before their opening game against Portugal, their coach Julen Lopetegui agreed to take charge of Real Madrid after the tournament. This drew the ire of the Spanish soccer authorities who showed him the door.
Lopetegui was replaced by Fernando Hierro, who, after draws against Portugal and Morocco and a nervous 1-0 victory over Iran, seemed to have no answer to the conundrum of how to break down Russia’s mass defence.
Despite completing 1,006 passes to their opponents’ 191, Spain could not overrun the hosts.
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