Spain's lopsided loss to Russia by the numbers
After two hours of some of the most dire soccer we’ve seen played at the 2018 World Cup, Russia advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Spain meanwhile, is headed home. Despite a lackluster performance in which it required a Russian own goal to get on the scoresheet, Spain was statistically dominant in every possible sense, even setting new World Cup passing records.
Here are some of the notable numbers behind the match that has to be one of the most statistically lopsided in the history of the World Cup, regardless of the result.
Spain completed 770 passes over 90 minutes, breaking Argentina’s 2010 record of 703 passes against Greece
Over the course of the entire 120 minutes, Spain completed 1029 passes total
In its four matches at the 2018 World Cup so far, Russia has completed 1027 passes total
Spain center back Sergio Ramos personally completed 141 passes against Russia
Russia attempted 285 passes and completed 202
Spain had 91 percent pass accuracy to Russia’s 71 percent
Spain managed nine shots on target while Russia managed just one
Spain dominated possession with 74 percent to Russia’s 26 percent
Spain held the lead between the 12th and 41st minute but didn’t attempt a shot on goal until the 45th
Sergei Ignashevich’s own goal was Russia’s second and the 10th overall at this World Cup
Russia is the first team to net more than one own goal at a World Cup since Bulgaria in 1966
2010 World Cup winner Spain has now lost three of four of its World Cup penalty shootouts
Spain keeper David De Gea, considered among the world’s best, conceded 10 goals from 11 shots on target he faced at the World Cup including penalties
Russia covered more ground with 146 km to Spain’s 137 km
Russia also dominated defensively, with 16 tackles to Spain’s seven and 47 clearances to Spain’s nine
At kickoff, Spain was ranked 10th and Russia 70th making the result officially the third biggest upset in World Cup history
The match was the first time ever in a World Cup that teams were allowed a fourth sub in extra time
141 – Sergio Ramos completed 141 passes against Russia, the most of any player in a World Cup game since at least 1966. Captain. #ESP #RUS #ESPRUS #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/3OVmDjDmAU
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 1, 2018
Of course, in the end, the only numbers that really matter are the ones on the scoreboard. At the end of 90 minutes plus extra time, those were 1-1, resulting in a penalty shootout that the host nation won 4-3.
The result saw Spain bow out of the tournament in rather inglorious fashion, while Russia will advance to a quarterfinal clash against the winner of Croatia vs. Denmark.
More World Cup on Yahoo Sports:
• Bushnell: Power ranking the Round of 16
• MVPs and LVPs of the group stage
• Dates, kickoff times for the Round of 16
• What could replace yellow cards as FIFA’s last-ditch tiebreaker?