Day 18 Snapshot from the World Cup
SNAPSHOT FROM DAY 18 OF THE WORLD CUP
AT A GLANCE: Spain were heavily favoured to brush aside Russia in their round of 16 encounter but the hosts had other ideas and, after ending regulation time and extra time at 1-1, held their nerve to prevail 4-3 on penalties. Denmark needed less than a minute to take the lead but Croatia hit back to be level at 1-1 after 90 minutes and 120 minutes, before they won the ensuing spot-kick shootout 3-2.
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic made three saves in the penalty shootout to deny Christian Eriksen, Lasse Schone and Nicolai Jorgensen. He is just the second player to achieve that feat at the World Cup.
TALKING POINT: Penalties. Love them or hate them, they dominated Sunday's knockout matches at the World Cup.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It is a reality that is my last match with the national team. Sometimes the endings are not as one dreams. Overall, it is surely the saddest day of my career." - the 34-year-old Andres Iniesta after Spain's World Cup elimination.
STAT OF THE DAY: 5 - Record number of penalties saved by goalkeepers in a World Cup penalty shootout. Three by Croatia's Danijel Subasic and two by Denmark's Kasper Schmeichel.
