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The first two games of the round of 16 have already entertained and at the same time, upset fans as the world saw both Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo bow out of the World Cup.
France and Uruguay have already booked a berth each at the quarterfinals. Spain and Russia will now lock horns to try and do the same.
The fans are in for a treat if the tie is anywhere near as breathtaking as the first two games of the round of 16, one of which was a 7-goal thriller between France and Argentina.
But tonight it's all about Spain and the host nation, Russia.
Here are three players whose performance can decide Spain's fate in the World Cup.
#4 Diego Costa
Filling the boots of Spain's all-time top goalscorer, David Villa was never going to be an easy task for Costa and his poor performances for La Roja brought him some harsh criticism. Diego Costa had a frustrating 2014 World Cup in the country of his birth, Brazil, and an equally frustrating Euro Cup in 2016. The Brazil-born forward who decided to play his football for the Spanish National team failed to score a single goal in 2014 World Cup and had a similar fate in the 2016 Euro as well.
The 2018 World Cup, however, has brought out the best in him. With 3 goals in 3 games, Diego Costa has been invaluable for the Spanish in their quest to get a second World Cup.
Costa has led the Spanish frontline with utmost brilliance and dedication, turning up with goals when his team needed him the most. The 29-year-old Spanish striker scored two of his three goals when his team was trailing, both times equalizing against Portugal.
His third goal was a 54th-minute strike against Iran, the only goal of the game, that gave the men in red a much-needed win.
The ex-Chelsea center forward has a point to prove in his national color and this is the perfect opportunity for him to silence his critics, and he seemed to have grabbed it with both hands.
He has been in inspired form in the group stages and his teammates will want the same from him in the knockout stages as well.
#3 David De Gea
Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, David de Gea has not been able to reproduce his fabulous club form at the World Cup for his national side. The Spanish shot-stopper has made only one save in 3 matches while conceding 5 goals to his opponents, 3 against Portugal and 2 against Morocco.
Despite defensive frailties, the Spanish managed to top their group ahead of Portugal and reach the knockout stages.
Two bad matches, however, is not enough to question David de Gea's qualities. Four times winner of the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award at Manchester United, de Gea has produced moments of magic over and over again.
Spain will hope to see him at his very best against a Russian side that has already scored 8 goals in the competition, and he surely has the quality to get Spain the win they want.
#2 Sergio Busquets
Flashy tricks. Dribbling past five players. These are not things one should expect from Busquets. Instead, his brilliance lies in his simplicity.
Spain will not rely on Busquets to get the goals, but he is one player whose performance can decide Spain's fate not only against Russia but also throughout the tournament should they qualify further.
With his brilliant reading of the game and ability on the ball, the 29-year-old Spanish international can control the entire pace of the game taking Spain to victory against Russia on Russia's home soil.
#1 Andres Iniesta
Iniesta is one of the all-time greats to have graced the game of football. His accomplishments are many. In his illustrious career, he has won a World Cup and two back to back Euro Cups with his national side.
He has been instrumental in Spain's recent success in international football producing Man of the Match winning performances in the 2010 World Cup final and the 2012 Euro Cup final.
At the age of 34, Iniesta is still producing moments of magic at the 2018 World Cup. It was his ability to make things happen that created Diego Costa's match-winning goal against Iran.
Against Morocco, he again displayed fine form when he found Isco inside the box with a cut back to create a goalscoring opportunity. Isco took it well, slotting the ball coolly into the goal to give Iniesta his first assist in 2018 edition of the tournament.
Now, once again his form can be the difference for the Spanish side that is up against a ruthless Russian side that has already scored 8 goals in the tournament and will try to keep the momentum going on the Home soil.
