Heroes And Villains Of The World Cup: Matchday 17

Spain, the side many elevated to the status of favorites after landing Russia in the Round of 16 followed by a quarterfinal against either Croatia or Denmark, is out. We said it before, and we’ll say it again: if you look ahead at the 2018 World Cup then you’re already dead.

Also, if you complete 1,006 passes in one match you’re dead as well. That’s another thing we learned today. 

Matchday One | Matchday Two | Matchday Three | Matchday Four | Matchday Five | Matchday Six | Matchday Seven | Matchday Eight | Matchday Nine | Matchday 10 | Matchday 11 | Matchday 12 | Matchday 13 | Matchday 14 | Matchday 15 | Matchday 16

Heroes and Villains of the World Cup: Matchday 17

Hero: Igor Akinfeev (Russia)

Akinfeev made a couple good saves during the match to keep Russia in it, but those saves will be forgotten because of this one right here:

#MundialTelemundo ¡El penal decisivo! Cobro de Iago Aspas y ataja Akinfeev. #RUS avanza a Cuartos de Final. pic.twitter.com/wEhSTcrBRr

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 1, 2018

He brought a lot of joy to the home nation tonight. Moscow's probably a pretty decent place to be at the moment.

The moment Spain were dumped out of the World Cup 2018..

The reaction from the Russians though...Priceless!! #RUS #ESPRUS #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Fu4maN4rS5

— TheRealCasuals (@Real_Casuals_66) July 1, 2018

Honorable mention: Kasper Schmeichel (Denmark)

The Danish goalkeeper did everything in his power to lift his side into the quarterfinals, including a penalty save on Luka Modric in the 116th minute and two more saves in the penalty shootout. Unfortunately his teammates couldn't match his efforts.

#MundialTelemundo ¡ Lo que se acaba de comer @lukamodric10 ! Era el pase de #CRO a los Cuartos de Final. pic.twitter.com/fLXt5DjKir

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 1, 2018

The shots of father Peter in the stands were enough to make you start weeping like Neymar. 

Peter Schmeichel reacting to his sons penalty save is one of the best moments in this #WorldCup #CRODEN pic.twitter.com/LKtSuYAL56

— Clarke (@ClarkeHutchison) July 1, 2018

Villain: David de Gea (Spain)

It’s a ridiculous sort of stat since six of these shots are penalties and another is that absurd free kick from Cristiano Ronaldo, but the world’s best goalkeeper did not have a tournament to remember. 

Including penalties, David De Gea faced 11 shots on target at World Cup 2018:

Goal
Goal
Goal
Goal
Saved
Goal
Goal
Goal
Goal
Goal
Goal

Dave s̶a̶v̶e̶s pic.twitter.com/sSD3Pop9cC

— bet365 (@bet365) July 1, 2018

He just didn't look confident in the shootout, but when you’ve only made one save over the course of two and a half weeks that’s probably to be expected. 

Honorable mention: Gerard Pique (Spain)

Despite completing over 1,000 passes, Spain never really looked like doing much after the opening goal. Regardless, the major frustration has to be conceding an equalizer against a side that was well and truly parking the bus. 

The only way Russia was ever going to score was via a terrible Spanish mistake. This was incredibly stupid from Pique — was this the moment that tiki-taka died?  

2 - Gerard Piqué has conceded 2 penalties at the World Cup, more than any other Spanish player in the competition since 1966. Volley. #ESPRUS #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/09XhRTwtE8

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 1, 2018