I think i can officially name this Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup "The Surprise World Cup". This is the most unpredictable and unexpected World Cup i have seen in my years. Wow!. The so called average teams are catching up with the so called big guns. Every team is evolving. No one wants to be left behind. In this World Cup, anything can happen and i am open to more surprises.

Spain is out of the World Cup, i repeat, Spain is out!!!. Wow.

This match is full of records, both pleasant and unpleasant ones, depending on who you support too.

The first time in this World Cup that a game will lead to an extra time. It is also the first penalty shoot out of the tournament.

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The match between Spain and Russia started brightly. I expected Spain to boss the possession as usual and they didn't disappoint, even though sometimes they left the tiki-taka for aimless passes.

In the 11th minute, Isco delivered a wonderful right cross into the box, from a free kick, and Sergie Ignashevich diverted it into the net as an own goal, when he was trying to block Ramos off, from reaching the delivery. Even though Ramos tried to claim it, it went down as an own goal. Sergie Ignashevich happened to be the oldest own goal scorer in a World Cup, at 38 years of age. What a record i must say.

Spain continued to dominate and Russia had few flashes here and there, and in the 41st minute, an handball was blown against Pique and Dzyuba duly converted, to level the matters, 1-1. Truth be told, i think De Gea is terrible with penalties. I have never seen him saved a spot kick. The moment Dzyuba took it, i knew it would be a goal.

Iniesta came on and he could have stolen the show in the 85th minute, when he unleashed a drive shot, which Akinfeev saved, and Iago Aspas couldn't direct it goal ward, on the rebound.

It went down to penalties and Koke was the first to miss for Spain. He covered his face in anger and guilt. Others scored and Iago Aspas could have given Spain a life line at least, till Russia play theirs, but he missed. Akinfeev diverted the goal bound penalty with his leg and it went out. Russia players went wild. What a win that was for them; 4-3 in penalties it ended.

This brings me to De Gea's woeful penalty duties. He couldn't save at least one of those penalties. He was alwats close, even for Manchester United, either he goes the wrong way, or he is close. To further worsen his World Cup record, he was faced with 7 shots tonight, and 6 goals were scored. Not the kind of record he would love to see, but the future look bright for him, because this is the first World Cup he would start as a regular, and he has a bad record with anything that has to do with his first time, and Manchester United fans can testify to how shaky he was in his first year at United. I am confident, if they showed faith in him again, he would deliver.

Spain are out, they didn't only bow out, they were kicked out and Iniesta already confirmed his retirement from Spain. What a midfield maestro he was for them.

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The second match of the day came between Croatia and Denmark. I tipped Croatia to win this one, as i already tipped Russia to win their tie against Spain.

This game started on a quick note for Denmark, and they scored the fastest goal at the World Cup since Clint Dempsey scored after 29 seconds, for USA v Ghana, in 2014. Knudsen gave a long throw in that got to Thomas Delaney, which somehow got into the path of Mathias Jorgensen, and he buried it without wasting much time, in the 1st minute.

Croatia knew they had to react, and they did, in the 4th minute, when Mandzukic scored with the smartness of a striker, when the ball was directed into his path. Croatia did all they could to nick it in the end, so did Denmark to get more out of the game, and they both went into extra time. It remained the same and spot kick had to settle the tie.

Denmark took the first one, via Eriksen and he missed. Croatia threw away their life line when Milan Badelj missed as well. Simon Kjaer scored for Denmark and Kramaric also scored for croatia. Dehli scored and also Modric returned the favour. Lasse Schone also missed while Josip Pivaric missed as well for Croatia. Seem like as Denmark miss, Croatia always follow suit, until that curse was broken by Rakitic, when the goal scorer for Denmark missed his own spot kick. Rakitic stepped up and converted. He became the hero of the night and what a day it is for Croatia. Their dream continues...

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