SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2018 18 Time for tiki-taka osts must rebound quickly for today’s World Cup last 16 clash Fact box Spain Vs Russia Hwith Spain, the 2010 champions who have slipped under the radar after a » Since the breakup of the , Russia have never beaten Spain. tumultuous start to the tournament. » Their last encounter ended 3-3 in a friendly back in November 2017. Resounding wins over Saudi Arabia and » Spain have scored 10 goals in their last three games against Russia (7 in two games at Euro 2008, 3 in a friendly in November 2017). Egypt elevated expectations for Stanislav » Spain are unbeaten in their last 23 games, the longest current run amongst the 32 teams at the 2018 World Cup. Cherchesov’s side before they were dealt a dose of reality in a 3-0 loss to Uruguay. Dismissed as no-hopers little over a fort- FIFA World Cup 2018 Shots in its last match against Uruguay, the few- night ago, Russia will try to get back on- Spain v Russia est by a host nation in a World Cup match since Last 16, July 1 board a wave of national euphoria and pull , 7 the US managed three against Brazil in 1994. off what striker called a HEAD-TO-HEAD All-time “minor miracle”. They make their first WC meetings goals were scored by Russia in the group stages knockout stage appearance in the post-So- Spain 6 Russia 2 despite posting an Expected Goals total of 3.06. viet era as the ultimate underdogs. Coach Coach 8 While Russia arrived at the finals winless Julen Stanislav Andres Iniesta has not converted any of his Lopetegui D4 Cherchesov in eight months before finding some bad- Captain Captain last 32 shots at the World Cup/Euros. His Sergio Igor ly-needed form, one of their better results Ramos Akinfeev last was in the 2010 final against the Recent meetings in that period came in a 3-3 draw with Spain Best finish Best finish 32 Netherlands. Winner 2017 Russia 3-3 Spain Fourth place last November. 2010 2008 Russia 0-3 Spain 1966 “Spain plays the same style (Tiki-taka- a ROAD TO LAST 16 POSSIBLE LINE-UPS: Group B D Portugal 3-3 Match 1 W S. Arabia 5-0 Group A style of play characterized by short passing winner W Iran 1-0 Match 2 W Egypt 3-1 runner-up Spain: ; , Gerard Pique, Sergio and movement) as in previous years,” said D Morocco 2-2 Match 3 L Uruguay 0-3 Ramos, ; , Koke, Andres Iniesta, Player to watch Player to watch the 38-year-old defend- COMPETITION STATISTICS Isco; and . er. “They play very high leaving spaces that 6 Goals scored 8 45 Total shots 27 a counter-attacking team can use. This is 12 Shots on target 11 Russia: ; Mario Fernandes, Ilya Kute- 2089 Passes completed 825 probably their only weak spot if they have 18 Corners 15 pov, Sergey Ignashevich, ; Roman Zob- any.” Russia will return to the Luzhniki 66% Possession 44% nin, Daler Kuzyaev; , Aleksandr Stadium, having played their opening match Golovin, Denis Cheryshev; Artem Dzyuba Luzhniki Hosted at the iconic venue, and will lean on fervent Stadium 1980 Capacity: Olympic support to go in search of a famous win. 80,000 Games and 2008 has rejoined the Champions Spain’s squad after recovering from a hamstring League final midfielder Source: FIFA injury, but is suspended Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS Andres Iniesta following his red card against Uruguay. Errors proving costly PLAYERS TO WATCH Igor Akinfeev Spain have not lost a match since Euro 2016, Spain - Diego Costa although they have looked far from convinc- The combative Atletico striker has ing after the chaos that saw coach Julen three goals to his name and will relish the Lopetegui sacked before their first game. chance to silence the home fans. They needed a last-gasp equaliser from Russia - Igor Akinfeev Iago Aspas in a 2-2 draw with Morocco to The CSKA Moscow goalkeeper has not al- pip Portugal to top spot in Group B, and are ways looked convincing at this tournament battling to fix a leaky defence. but he will have to be at his best if he is to “The most important thing for us is to set keep Spain’s potent attack at bay. up well for the Russia game. We’re not play- Did you know? ing 11 , we’re up against thousands On the day of the game, it will have of Russians in a full stadium,” said Bayern been 11,704 days between matches in the Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara. knockout stages at a World Cup for Russia. Despite a centre-back pairing of Sergio Their most recent non-group match was on 15 Ramos and Gerard Pique, Spain have con- June 1986, where - then competing as the Soviet ceded five goals in three games with goal- Union - they were defeated 4-3 AET in a thrilling keeper David de Gea looking a shadow of his round of 16 encounter with Belgium. Incidentally, it usual self. No team in recent memory that will be almost eight years (2912 days, to be precise) has gone on to lift the trophy has conceded FIFAsince World Spain played Cup a knockout 2018 game: their 2010 Final more than four goals, a statistic not lost on Spain’s coach Fernando Russia’s coach Stanislav victory over the Netherlands. right-back Dani Carvajal. Hierro Cherchesov Croatia v Last 16, July 1

HEAD-TO-HEAD All-time Eriksen-Modric battle or Croatia-Denmarkmeetings clash Croatia 2 Denmark 2 | Russia POSSIBLE LINE-UPS: Coach Coach enmark coach Age Hareide Fact box Croatia:Zlatko Danijel Subasic; Sime Vrsaljko, , , Ivan Strinic;Age said his side’s World Cup IvanDalic Rakitic, Milan Badelj; Ante Rebic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic; Mario MandzukicHareide D D1 last-16 match against Croatia » The five previous encounters have produced two wins apiece and one draw. Captain Captain could boil down to who » The sides last met in a warm-up game prior to Euro 2004, with the Croats Denmark:Luka ; , , SimonSimon Modric Kjaer comes out on top in winning 2-1 in . Kjaer, ; Lasse Schone,Recent Thomas meetings Delaney; , , The only previous meeting at a major tournament was at Euro 1996, when YussufBest finish Yurary Poulsen; Nicolai Jorgensen Best finish the midfield battle » 2004 Denmark 1-2 Croatia between Chris- Croatia won a group game 3-0. Davor Suker scored twice - the second a brilliant Third place Quarter-final 1998 1999 Croatia 0-1 Denmark 1998 tian Eriksen and lob - with Zvonimir Boban also on target at Hillsborough. Luka Modric. ROAD TO LAST 16 The Danes Group D W Nigeria 2-0 Match 1 W Peru 1-0 Group C failed to set winner W Argentina 3-0 Match 2 D Australia 1-1 runner-up pulses racing W Iceland 2-1 Match 3 D France 0-0 in the opening Player to watch Player to watch round, featur- Luka Modric COMPETITION STATISTICS Christian Eriksen ing in the first 7 Goals scored 2 goalless draw of 39 Total shots 25 the World Cup 9 Shots on target 9 against France, a 1140 Passes completed 909 result that ensured Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic Denmark’s coach Age Hareide 13 Corners 14 both sides progressed from 52% Possession 42% Group C. Denmark are unbeaten for 18 once before, when Croatia won But Hareide said his team would games, a national record, their last 3-0 at Euro 96, and Davor Suker be more expansive and play differ- defeat coming against Montene- famously lobbed Danish goalkeep- Nizhny Inspired ently against the fancied Croats in gro in October 2016. er Peter Schmeichel. Novgorod by Volga Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday. If Denmark beat Croatia, it will His son, Kasper, is now the Dan- Stadium countryside, Capacity: with shades “I think you will see a differ- be only the second time the Danes ish ‘keeper and, despite saying 45,000 symbolising ent Denmark from what you have have qualified for the last eight of earlier he was tired of answering themes of seen so far and the type of game the World Cup, the other occasion questions about his father, the wind and we have played,” said Hareide. being in 1998. younger Schmeichel was asked if Source: FIFA water Croatia’s midfielder “Yes, we need to defend but we The two teams have only met in he knew Suker was.“He’s a Croat, Pictures: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS Ivan Rakitic need to attack more.” the finals of a major competition that’s all I know,” he deadpanned.