​World Cup, Round of 16: Was Russia-Spain Really an Upset?

World Cup, Round of 16: Was Russia-Spain Really an Upset?

7/1/2018

It's 2018. This is Kylian Mbappe

Russia always did defend well. Napoleon found out after his Grande Armée spent five months, two weeks and six days in Russia in 1812. And the Siege of Leningrad in World War Two lasted 872 days and cost a million Russian lives, but the visitors went home.

So was that really a shocker that a Spanish team, far from its prime, far from home, fumbled around for 120 minutes on Sunday, inducing an own goal by a stalwart Russian defender, coughing up one penalty kick goal, and ultimately failing via dreaded penalty kicks?

Russia did what it had to do, letting the visitors complete over 1,000 passes in two futile hours, and waiting for the deluge and the amped-up crowd to take over.

That’s an upset?

By the same token is it really so terrible that Germany, the defending champion, in name, anyway, could not get out of the group stage, and Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – “the two best players in the world today,” as the saying goes – went home after Saturday?

La Liga starts on Aug. 18. Buen descanso, senores. Better teams, hungrier teams, younger teams, faster teams, are staying in Russia for a while. How bad is that?

Spain did not resemble the squad that charmed in the 2010 World Cup, playing tiki-taka while the Dutch, from a nation that once invented Total Football, resorted to thugging it up. But that was eight years ago.

Spain on Sunday seemed to be a rewrite of the Pirandello play, “Six Characters in Search of an Author.” This one was, “Ten Field Players in Search of a Striker.”

The Spanish manager did not start Andrés Iniesta, perhaps because of age or injury, or perhaps to avoid having the giant Artem Dzyuba beat up on him, but as soon as Dzyuba came clumping off the field after 70 minutes or so (and one PK), here came Iniesta. Spain began moving the ball better around the periphery, but Iniesta could never establish his rhythm, could never pick the lock.

The shootout? Skill and nerves and luck. Sounds like any great sport, to me.

Reminder: every World Cup exists on its own. Don’t listen to the “experts,” or even dilettantes like me, who see patterns, reminders of old days.

The only thing that exists is 2018, with Kylian Mbappe of France out-racing a relay team of Argentines on Saturday, then turning the corner from the future to the present. It must be nice to be 19, and run like that, and smile like that.

Hansen Alexander

7/1/2018 02:54:54 pm

Brilliant commentary George on what looked to me indeed as a siege of Leningrad. I barely know this game but I was very impressed how well the Russians kicked out the low balls aimed at their goal. And your apt observation that Spain was a team looking for a striker really hit me. To my ignorant eye, in watching the great scorers I've seen, they all seem to have that natural, relaxed talent to "pull the trigger" instantly without having to get set and without hurrying. I didn't see it on the Moscow field today. Again, I don't know much about the game, but the endless Spanish passing seemed to have too much hesitation on the initial passes setting it all in motion. With so many of the best teams out, and the best score keepers out, I would not be shocked to see Russia's own miracle. However, is Brazil still in this thing? Nobody has been talking about them.

George Vecsey

7/1/2018 08:51:45 pm

Hansen, nice to hear from you. I would guess many Russian players know each other from the domestic league -- and they are patriotic anyway, and playing in their home country. So there's that.
Brazil-Mexico Monday 10 AM eastern. This is a different Mexico team, with a modern, educated coach (Osorio), Brazil still has a lot of talent. I like Marcelo, the savvy left back. Neymar a scamp and a faker, but has talent. I love Brazil going back to 82, but admit I am rooting for Mexico in this one. GV

Alan Rubin link

7/1/2018 11:55:59 pm

Wonderful analysis of the Russian-Spain game. I usually let your comments speak for themselves, but Hansen is correct—today you were right on target.

This World Cup has been both exciting and one of changing loyalties.

I was not alone in criticizing the duel selection of Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022). I was almost hoping that Russia would self-destruct before the eyes of the soccer world. However, after all the excitement and great soccer from so many underdog countries in the group stage, I decided to ignore politics or any concerns about political correctness.

I quickly switched to rooting for Russia when Spain continued with their lackluster keep away passing game. Although they had most of the passes, Russia continually shut them down and were always dangerous on the attack.

It is also possible that my father’s Russian roots from the small town of Berditchev, an hour west of Kiev, may have kicked in. His family was forced to leave in 1921 when my grandfather was killed by the Cossack's, but he and my uncle always talked about playing chess and soccer.

My Madison, WI based daughter Jen and her family are visiting relatives in the Northwest this week, but she has found time to text me on all the great goalkeeper saves. There have been many outstanding ones throughout this World Cup, but Jen call it right when she said it was like watching a goalkeeper’s master class.

Russia’s Igor Akinfeev PK saves were masterful. His leg save with the ball behind him was a classic example of what makes good goalkeepers great. He was also strong throughout the game.

In the Denmark-Croatia game, both goalkeepers came up short on the two early goals. Then they settled in and played strong games-coming out to punch away dangerous balls and fantastic PK saves. I liked both teams and it did not matter who moved on.

This changed when Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel stopped the PK with four minutes left in stoppage time. He moved early, but not enough to have the shot retaken. Also, he was slightly advancing when he dove to the side, thereby cutting the angle. That tipped me in favor a seeing Denmark advance. It is as good a reason as any.

He, as well Croatian keeper Danijel Subasic chose well and both made some leg saves behind the direction of their dives.

Some of Tony Meola’s comments as a former goalkeeper were probably not noticed by anyone who did not play in the goal. Several times he mentioned that the goalkeeper not being in his set position resulted in either a goal or a mishandled shot.

Goalkeepers should always keep in a direct line with the ball, not the shooter, and continually adjust the line as the ball moves. Once the shooter drops the head to take a shot, the goalkeeper instantly sets for the shot and can react quickly in any direction. It is common for the goalkeeper to “steal a yard” when setting up, thus cutting the angle a bit more and being in a spot different from when the shooter last looked. The difference between a goal and a save can be a fraction of a second in reaction time.

I was amazed by the quickness and agility of the field players. They plucked balls out of seeming impossible situations and redirected them with considerable accuracy. All players seemed to move at a quicker pace than I remembered seeing at the 2014 World Cup.

I watch how the goalkeepers position themselves in different situation for coaching tips. Their footwork seemed to be so quick at times that it was difficult to see them set up.

It might be my old eyes, but the pace in this World Cup has definitely picked up.

George Vecsey

7/2/2018 08:51:17 am

Alan, having made life miserable for a couple of keepers in high school (I was their right back, that is), I have a great respect for them. Thanks for your expertise. I saw Schmeichel moving -- big man, any motion is exaggerated -- but did not notice a lot of complaining from Croatia.
Is that reviewable by VAR? I don't know. People are still talking about the Scurry move in 1999....she was taught the move by the great Tony DeCicco, and she deked the ref. I had a great dialogue with Donna LoPiano, the voice of conscience in sports, and she maintained (I am sure, still does) that cheating is cheating.
Yes, I think the pace picks up in knockout stage, although Russia set its own measured pace yesterday. GV

Joshua Rubin

7/2/2018 03:35:46 pm

Question for my dad and the other mavens here.

I was watching the Denmark-Croatia PKs at our local AT&T phone store (long story), Me, the owner and some customers. We were trying to discern how much the keepers were guessing, reacting, or had some other kind of plan of attack. What do you think they were doing, and what do you think is the right approach for a keeper during PKs?.

Brian Savin

7/1/2018 08:37:51 pm

It seems to my inexpert eye that these “national” teams depend heavily on player selection and coaching prowess for success. The ones that can forge themselves into the best teams the quickest are rewarded more than the ones that can brag mostly about having star players. I didn’t see much of either Croatia-Denmark either today or in round one, but In the other three games I felt the better team play won. France was wonderful in melding old pros with young phenoms, and Uruguay has a Cinderella amigos quality. Russia is mostly old - real old - but their teamwork was a wonder to behold, creating the most dramatic game I’ve seen in my very, very limited World experience. I loved their game with Spain.

George

7/1/2018 08:56:30 pm

Brian, thanks so much for your insight. Yes, almost all 32 squads are all=star teams, with players spread around the globe. How they meld determines how they do, in many cases. Not a big fan of Suarez of Uruguay (not just because he bites people), but admire a nation of, I think, 3 million producing that much talent and energy. The home team struck me as a true national squad. GV

Brian Savin

7/2/2018 07:55:34 am

While we’re waiting for today’s games to begin, I wanted to mention that I love your literary reference to Pirandello, George. I’ve always wanted to see that play performed but have never found it. FYI, another lesser known work of his. “[To Clothe the] Naked” - omitting the first few words sells more tickets I suppose - is being performed in Stockbridge Sept 27-Oct 28 by the Berkshire Theater Group at the Unicorn. I can’t wait to see it, and can only imagine how you might weave a reference to it in a future match report!
Best
Brian

George Vecsey

7/2/2018 08:56:37 am

Brian, thanks for noticing. I am blessed to have been exposed to terrific English and drama teachers at Hofstra College, 1956-60. It has stayed with me, informs me every day. They had (still have) a Globe Theatre for Shakespeare every March -- and I am reading an Anthony Burgess book on Shakespeare these days.
Almost did a side riff on Bloomsday June 16 but it didn't work. GV

Brian Savin

7/2/2018 09:43:14 am

“Yes.” (Also Joyce’s last word in Ulysses.) Alas, no World Cup scheduled for Dublin.

Michael

7/2/2018 09:07:52 am

My soccer podcast called Russia’s win over Spain “Russia’s biggest unexpected victory since the the US 2016 election!” I'm actually happy for the Russian team and fans. Politics aside, they're throwing a great tournament. The home team deserves some progress and Spain was stubborn...maybe naive. Croatia will kill Russia I think.

Brian Savin

7/2/2018 01:22:03 pm

I loved the wonderful team offensive attack of Mexico in the opening ten minutes, but I soon learned the limits of team play if more talented players can pick your pocket every time a player with the ball can be isolated. I had to keep a meeting with a dozen lobsters so I heard the second half on the radio but it sure sounded like Brazil has put together a complete team.

Also heard the sour grapes of the Mexican coach dissing the refs, but he didn’t field a team of saints himself.

George Vecsey

7/2/2018 01:28:54 pm

For all the education of Osorio, he started two guys doomed to not finish -- loyalty? bad judgment? As the Fox guy said, even subbing Rafa was dicey because it disrupted the squad.
Like Spain putting in Iniesta at 70 minutes. Iniesta had to turn the truck around, in traffic, in a short time.
Hope the lobsters were worth deserting the WC....GV

John Jeansonne link

7/4/2018 01:24:57 pm

Love your spot-on observations as always. I keep adopting teams--Iceland, Mexico, Panama, Spain--and they keep losing. But there always are more to latch onto--England (my daughter lives there), France (my long, long, long, long ago ancestors lived there), and this World Cup is living up to high standards.

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QUOTES
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As I write this, I’m in a deserted newsroom in The Times’s D.C. office. After working at home for two years during Covid, I was elated to get back, so I could wander around and pick up the latest scoop.
But in the last year, there has been only a smattering of people whenever I’m here, with row upon row of empty desks. Sometimes a larger group gets lured in for a meeting with a platter of bagels."

--- Dowd writes about the lost world of journalists clustered in newsrooms at all hours, smoking, drinking, gossipping, making phone calls, typing, editing.
***
"Putting out the paper," we called it.
Much more than nostalgia.
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