World Cup: Penalty shootouts doom Spain and Denmark

The first two penalty shootouts of the World Cup brought some incredible results and changed the landscape of the tournament.

Russia and Croatia are through to the quarterfinals, leaving Spain and Denmark to ponder what could have been if they had not just passed the ball from side to side! Ok, maybe that’s just Spain.

Spain go out to the Hosts on Penalties yet again

In 2002, Spain was sent home after losing 5-3 on penalties to host nation South Korea in the quarterfinals. 16 years later, Spain repeated the feat losing to Russia on penalties 4-3.

A game that may live in infamy with Spanish supporters for the rest of time, this marked the final death rattle of Spanish dominance in international football.

The tiki-taka style that brought Spain to never before seen heights was ultimately their downfall. Spain had 74% possession and made over 1100 passes. They only scored one goal and it was a freak own goal.

Pique tried to one-up his Barcelona teammate Samuel Umtiti by committing a ridiculous handball in the box that gave Russia the equalizer. Russia hunkered down and Spain could not break them down.

The team that could break down any defense in the world was nowhere to be seen on the pitch. In extra time, Rodrigo had one moment of magic parried away by Igor Akinfeev and that was the end.

Every Spanish supporter could sense that Russia was going to pull off the upset. Russia buried every penalty. Koke and Iago Aspas did not.

For the second tournament in a row, Spain crashes out in the Round of 16. David De Gea has proven that he is no Iker Casillas. Andres Iniesta, the man who won the 2010 World Cup, will end his international career with a defeat to Russia.

There will need to be changes from within the Spanish Federation. They made the mind-bogglingly dumb decision to fire Julen Lopetegui before the tournament and effectively ended their tournament hopes before it started.

Every team in the world knows how to play against tiki-taka, from Iran to Russia. Tiki-Taka is dead, something new has to replace it.

Croatia and Denmark provide a goalkeeping masterclass

A game defined by its very beginning and the very end. The first five minutes of the match provided two crazy goals. Denmark took the lead within the first minute after a long throw and scramble in the box with Mathias Jørgensen scoring the first goal of the match.

Croatia equalized 196 seconds later when a Danish clearance hit off of Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen’s head and into Mario Mandzukic’s feet. The rest of the match was more what we expected. Croatia trying to break down Denmark and the Danes trying to counterattack. Rinse and repeat until the final minutes of extra time.

In the 119th minute, Luca Modric sent an incredible through ball to Andrej Kramaric who was able to round the goalkeeper.

However, Mathias Jørgensen fouled Kramaric before he was able to tap in the winner and gave Croatia a penalty in the dying moments of extra time. Modric stepped up to take it and his low effort was saved by Kasper Schmeichel sending the game into penalties.

What followed was incredible goalkeeping by both Schmeichel and Croatian goalie Danijel Subasic. Subasic was a bit better as he saved penalties from Danish talisman Christian Eriksen, Lasse Schöne, and Nicolai Jørgensen. Schmeichel saved two shots, but Modric redeemed himself in the shootout and Ivan Rakitic finished the job, sending Croatia through to the quarterfinals.

Next: World Cup Power Rankings after the group stage

Either Croatia or Russia will be in the semifinals of the World Cup. It is safe to say not a lot of people outside of Eastern Europe thought this quarterfinal was possible.

What a World Cup we are experiencing.