Russia progress on penalties after holding their nerve to stun the Spanish

Russia are through to the quarter-finals after Spain became the latest big nation to crumble at the World Cup.

After the 1-1 draw was decided from the spot, Croatia or Denmark await following a tight and uneventful last 16 clash which failed to live up to Saturday’s high standards.

It looked to be going to form when an own goal, the ninth already this tournament, put the 2010 winners in front. But another theme of this World Cup levelled things up – a penalty well converted by Artem Dzyuba.

It came down to what happened from 12 yards, the first shoot out so far, and Russia go through as goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev save twice to send the home fans wild.

AS IT HAPPENED: Spain v Russia, last 16

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Spain join Germany, Argentina and Portugal in packing their bags early as their pre-tournament turmoil caught up with them.

The hosts knew their limits. Playing for penalties the moment they earned parity, this was a backs-to-the-wall performance orchestrated by a defender and goalkeeper fast approaching their 40s.

Stand-in Spanish coach Fernando Hierro took a selection risk, benching Andres Iniesta – a player who has started 33 of the country’s last 34 major tournament matches. The legend making way but the early signs were that he wasn’t going to be missed.

It took 11 minutes for the breakthrough to arrive and yet again an own goal was the root cause. Another veteran was suddenly in the spotlight.

Sergei Ignashevich, pulling and tugging Sergio Ramos inside the box, probably got his just deserts. Marco Asensio’s free-kick hit the 38-year-old’s heels as he was wrestling with the Real Madrid man and as he wasn’t looking it flew past his own goalkeeper.

Russia became the first nation since Bulgaria in 1966 to put through their own net twice in the competition. The ninth own goal of this World Cup already, the previous record of six long since passed.

It sucked the life out of deflated Russia, the very last thing they wanted so early on and now had to select their moments to attack wisely at the risk of getting picked off.

Russia knew it had to be them to score next or their dream would surely die.

Their most talented player, CSKA Moscow’s Aleksandr Golovin, always looked the most likely and bent a 35th minute effort just past David de Gea’s post.

Spain had their warning. A corner was headed towards goal by Dzyuba and Gerard Pique’s left arm was bewilderingly raised. Having won the penalty, Dzyuba took it – waiting for the Manchester United keeper to move before side-footing in, his third goal of the World Cup never in doubt.

Despite two goals, this game wasn’t of the quality we had seen in the of round of 16 so far.

In an attempt to inject some life into a tie struggling to live up to Saturday’s standards , Spain coach Hierro called on benched Iniesta to make an impact. For the fourth game running, his team had failed to perform like expected.

Russia, clearly content to take it all the way and take their chances in extra time or penalties, were coping and more than comfortable. The static winners from eight years ago were hardly doing much to stamp their authority on proceedings themselves, struggling to break down the host’s wall.

You always got the impression one moment of class would win it.

Considering his exclusion, Iniesta wanted to provide it. Fellow substitute Iago Aspas’ chest found the 34-year-old, his low shot was kept out of the bottom corner and Aspas couldn’t provide the finish. Extra time it was.

Things didn’t improve, only Marco Asensio’s shot from distance anything like a chance in the first 15 minutes, the Russian iron curtain wasn’t for moving.

Finally we had some life, not a game easy on the eye but one which still you wouldn’t take your focus from.

Rodrigo added some electricity from the bench but Akinfeev, 35, got down to it. It was link-up play we were badly missing with ten minutes of time left before penalties. The same thing happened again with the rain coming down in the final few seconds could his shot couldn’t prevent penalty kicks.

Step forward the Russian keeper, the hero of the home fans.

Koke’s penalty was woeful and the pressure on Aspas was too much, Akinfeev getting the party started in Moscow with a wonderful second block.

They make the quarter finals for the first time since the break up of the Soviet Union.