Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain | OneFootball

Icon: OneFootball

OneFootball

Phil Costa·1 July 2018

Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain

Article image:Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain

Let’s face it. The first round of knockout matches were always going to be a tough act to follow, but Spain and Russia gave it a good go.

What they offered just wasn’t any good. However, what we *did* have was a huge shock as the host nation knocked out one of the tournament favourites on penalties.


OneFootball Videos


It was a struggle to find five conclusions – but we found them! – and you can read them down below…

Spain have some soul searching to do

Article image:Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain

Spain are heading home and they’ve only got themselves to blame.

Their play is too passive, too slow and one-dimensional, making it easy for teams to defend against them. Due to their youth academies placing higher value on technically gifted players, the lack of ‘Plan B’ is hardly surprising but so often they looked to Diego Costa for something different. When it doesn’t click for him who can they turn to?

Aside from Marco Asensio and Lucas Vázquez (who are hardly 100m sprinters), the lack of speed in forward areas offers their attacking play little variety. Having such brilliant midfielders wasn’t a problem when you have David Villa and Fernando Torres up front – it is a problem now.

Talk of rebuilding the whole system is exaggerated but they’ll certainly need some fresh ideas on the drawing board.

Russia continue to ride momentum on home soil

Article image:Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain

All the early talk was about how Russia ran more, tackled more and scored more than anybody else.

Their opening two games saw two wins, two clean sheets and eight goals head in their favour and maybe there was substance behind some cautious optimism. But today their win over La Roja was a result of pure grit, determination and riding momentum from their fans.

To finish 120 minutes of football with such concentration and organisation deserves huge credit – an achievement made all the more impressive when you consider how many players were on their knees, breathless and cramping up after 90 minutes.

It’s unlikely that the Golden Eagles will lift the trophy come July 15th, but with a nation on their side and confidence building, stranger things have happened.

Golovin can make the step up

Article image:Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain

Their dramatic victory will go down as a collective effort but Aleksandr Golovin continues to shine for Russia.

Golovin has been a standout performer this summer and was again a cut above his teammates on the biggest stage. It’s believed that Arsenal, Juventus, Napoli and Chelsea are all keen on securing his services and their interest has been justified.

The 22-year-old is very much a modern midfielder. Technically astute, athletic, quick in transition and with an admirable work ethic to boot, his profile suits top European clubs who require strength in depth and it’s clear he has outgrown CSKA.

By today’s standards, €30m for a player of his quality is nothing for what could potentially be a huge upside.

Isco is the heir to Iniesta’s throne

Article image:Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain

The pre-match team news was telling. Andrés Iniesta dropped. Isco starting alongside Asensio and David Silva.

Iniesta is a legend for club and country but as he approaches his 35th birthday, you can tell his influence is waning. The Vissel Kobe midfielder completed 90 minutes just once last season and with Isco in such impressive form, the decision to bench him came as no surprise.

Throughout a largely laboured performance, the Real Madrid midfielder was the only one probing, looking to penetrate a stern Russian defence when his teammates were more interested in passing backwards and sideways.

The only man in red who can come out of this defeat with credit.

Penalties offered us all a sweet, sweet release

Article image:Five conclusions as Russia cause huge shock against sluggish Spain

It wasn’t a classic. Far from it. But after nearly two hours of sideways football we all deserved penalties and the drama they offer. So that’s what we got.

Long live the penalty shoot-out!