Spain vs. Russia
- When: Sunday 1 July
- Kick-off time: 3pm
- Where: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
- TV channel: live on BBC One
Spain defender Dani Carvajal believes his country will find their best form in the World Cup knockout stages but admits that they face a tough test against the host nation Russia on Sunday.
The 2010 World Cup winners qualified first in group B but had to settle for draws against Portugal and Morocco. Spain beat Iran 1-0 in their other group match.
Speaking ahead of the last-16 clash in Moscow, Carvajal told The Daily Telegraph: “On Sunday we have a very difficult game against the host nation, who scored eight goals in two games and who will have the whole country behind them.
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“Russia is a strong and quick team and we have to be very wary of giving the ball away. We have to be very focused and set ourselves up to exploit their weaknesses and capitalise on their errors.
“From now on the games are life or death, you can’t play for a draw, you either win or you go home. I think these games are going to be different and we will recover our best form.”
Meanwhile Russia defender Sergey Ignashevich says the host nation will look to take advantage of the space around Spain’s high defensive line.
He said: “Their defenders try to get high up the pitch and that leads to a lot of free space and allows you to create danger on the counter-attack. That was one of Spain’s biggest weaknesses in the group stage, Morocco and Iran used that strategy and we will try to do it too.”
Spain vs. Russia starting XIs
Spain vs. Russia predictions
The Daily Telegraph: “Russia lost momentum with their heavy [3-0] defeat to Uruguay after a fast start, while Spain seem certain to improve as the tournament progresses. Prediction: Spain 2 Russia 1.”
Independent: “Spain will still be feeling the pain from their 2-2 draw against Morocco and will go into this game with it at the forefront of their minds. Russia will need to correct the weaknesses that were exposed by Uruguay in the final game of the group stage. Spain are heavily favoured to win.”
SportsMole: “Neither side will be completely satisfied with their performances at this event, but we are backing Spain to begin to find their ‘A’ game now that the group stages have come to a conclusion. Russia will be confident of causing an upset but Spain’s greater quality in attack could prove to be the difference. Spain 3-1 Russia.”
Spain vs. Russia betting odds
Best prices according to Oddschecker (as of 30 June)
- Spain to win: 4/7
- Draw: 3/1
- Russia to win: 5/1
First goalscorer
- Diego Costa (Spain): 16/5
- Iago Aspas (Spain): 9/2
- Rodrigo (Spain): 9/2
- Isco (Spain): 13/2
- Marco Asensio (Spain): 13/2
- David Silva (Spain): 13/2
- No goalscorer: 8/1
- Fyodor Smolov (Russia): 17/2
- Lucas Vazquez (Spain): 9/1
- Artem Dzyuba (Russia): 10/1
- Sergio Ramos (Spain): 12/1
