Spain 1-1 Russia: 5 Talking Points as Spain crash out 3-4 on penalties, World Cup 2018

#4 Russia battle their way back to parity

The worst thing that could happen, for any neutral, was Spain taking an early lead. That would mean that the Europeans could sit on their lead and pass it about without really threatening in the final third. Alternatively, if Russia took the lead it would mean that Spain would have to come out and play, and that would afford Russia the opportunity to break on the counter and that in turn, would make for interesting viewing.

Unfortunately, it was the former which came true. However, Russia stepped up to the task and, despite the relative lack of skill and flair, began pushing Spain out of their half and into their own. They threatened to hit back with an equalizer as the lively Aleksandr Golovin came close from the edge of the box; not enough curl on the ball to bring it back inside the far post.

Russia then managed to battle and earn a corner and the noise levels at the Luzhniki Stadium began to rise. They got higher as Pique's mindless decision to throw his hand in the air after the ball had passed him resulted in the referee awarding a penalty. No doubt about it, Dzyuba's header struck Pique's ill-placed left hand.

Dzyuba stepped up and became the first player to score a goal for Russia in the World Cup knockout stages since Igor Belanov netted a hat-trick for then-Soviet Union in a 4-3 defeat against Belgium in the 1986 Round of 16.