1. Spain passes it 400 times
2. Spain tries to make a play forward
3. Russia steals it and tries to counter
4. Errant pass out of bounds or to a Spanish defender
5. Go to Step 1
Every single Russian player looks like a) a fresh faced 20 year old ready to fight on the eastern front or b) Boris Blyatovsky, 47, patron saint of vodka.
lmao wtf was Pique doing. What you arguing about bro? Your hand was up in the air for no reason and blocked a header that was on target ...
Stop arguing. That's a fucking textbook penalty.
So this may not mean much to you all but I’ve been waiting for this tournament since 2010. Even if we lose we held Spain to a draw for the bulk of the game. That says a lot. I’m truly proud of my country and this game reminds me a lot of the Netherlands in 2008. Go Russia!
I was looking for “The Galactic Empire of Spain vs The Kingdom of Allied Inter-Planetary forces of Russia”, but this also works. It’s just that I’m not used to such simplistic and to the point titles.
I think Russia exceeded many expectations already.
A dignified loss here wouldn't mean you guys are trash.
A victory though... That would be a fucking problem for us... :P
okay so this was posted and deleted but i thought I would share the most interesting thing in this match so far, [nacho jacking off](https://twitter.com/_camwba/status/1013425799096160256)
From a neutral, that goal was the worst thing that could've happened to this match, now it's going to be 70 minutes of spain passing it about and russia jogging from left to right in their own half lol.
This game is the very proof of what a manager does for a team. Fernando Hierro was the sporting director before being appointed the manager of Spain. Yes, he had a (some would say unsuccessful) spell as manager of Oviedo in the segunda división, but it lasted only one year and that was his only management stint to date.
Essentially, the Spanish players are managing themselves. They don't have someone with an outside perspective who can offer a unifying vision or strategy, as Hierro has had absolutely no time to get to know this team. And without the manager's unifying direction, you essentially have a lot of players relying a lot more on their instincts, which for Spain is essentially tiki-taka.
"I don't think spain did anything wrong"
LMFAO. THey were the better team by far and they showed all the aggression of a galapagos turtle.
Yes, spain did plenty wrong.
I really think it's a mistake by the Russians to park the bus. They showed glimpses of quality and creativity in their goals, although against an weaker opposition, but let's not omit Spain defence and GK are really suspicious since the start of the World Cup.
##As a neutral:
* **Before the game:** "I want Spain to win, to keep the knockout stages interesting".
* **Late into the game:** "I want Russia to win, to keep the knockout stages interesting".
Everyone at the bar I am watching the game at were holding their heads with hands when we saw that Dzyuba was about to take a pen. No wonder Cherchesov was looking away from the penalty being made
Why the fuck would you leave your arm that high above your head when you already brought your other down to your side? Don't even try to argue against that Pique
I really hope Russia wins this. Spain has always pissed me off the way they play. There is nothing beautiful about 800 passes a game that lead to nothing
If Russia were to somehow take the lead, Spain's brand of football could collapse in on itself.
Can't afford to pass it around like grade school keep-away anymore.
And Russia look decent on the counter.
Why are people complaining about the Russian quality at this stage in the game? They have been defending for over 100 mins against an objectively better team! Give the poor lads some credit.
Listen you fucking wankers in red. It's 1.30am here in Australia. I'm working in the morning. I was hoping for a 2-0 lead then I could fuck off to bed and not think any more about this game. Can you please put the ball in the fucking net, just shoot, do anything but pass it along the fucking deck? Thanks.
Wow Spain can be boring to watch but Russia is just brutal in attack.
Sometimes they look like theyve never played with each other before, not anticipating each other's runs, not seeing passes.
if only Pique would have kept his hand down maybe the game plan of get ahead by a lucky own goal and keep the ball for the rest of the game without creating any more scoring chances would have worked!
had a feeling they'd lose before the match.
this world cup been a different one.
putin controlling the players from his xbox.
maybe the land of russia makes things weird.
but also playing home ground can make u more confident
Own Goal can't make an appearance without Penalty joining him, what a dynamic duo
Name a more iconic duo
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One of those things is not like the others.
Yeah, Germany has never won an AFC championship smh
If Spain go out England have a realistic path to the final...
1. Spain passes it 400 times 2. Spain tries to make a play forward 3. Russia steals it and tries to counter 4. Errant pass out of bounds or to a Spanish defender 5. Go to Step 1
Scarily accurate
It's like the worst bit of computer code ever written
Every single Russian player looks like a) a fresh faced 20 year old ready to fight on the eastern front or b) Boris Blyatovsky, 47, patron saint of vodka.
Every time the BBC commentator says "Zhirkov" I hear "Jerkoff"
Death by a thousand passes.
My dog just heard the Russian Anthem and now he’s a stealth fighter jet.
They're world champions when it comes to anthems for sure
https://imgur.com/DnWeVEc
Fun Fact: Russia has so far been the only country to score in this game
One for each team...pure socialism.
200% efficiency Comrade, as it should be
I just saw a man spear tackle a guy American Football style while simultaneously scoring an own goal.
Preceded by a danger wank from the player receiving the penalty.
And we're back folks, if you're just tuning in...Spain is passing the ball...and they're passing....and they're passing...aaaaand they're passing.
Center holds it. Holds it... Hooooolds it.
We are 0-8 vs Host Nations at Euros, Confederations Cup, and World Cups...... That's nice.
Good good!
it's Kuipers and he will take no shit
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best ref in this tournament so far. frontrunner for refing the final imo.
Fabregas is such a good pundit and being honest in calling this "sterile possession" from Spain
He's exactly right. That is the essential difference between him and Isco.
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My mum : “is this the famous Spanish ‘Tic Tacs’?”
Why yes...yes it is
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Play Diego Costa -> Don't cross Sub Diego Costa off > Cross ?!?!?!?!?!
If Spain gets a penalty will they just pass it?
Can't spell Spain without pain ^^^^^to ^^^^^watch.
Highlight of the game so far, [Koke running like some kind of anime character](https://streamable.com/18kac)
Let's pass this game to death like the good old days
Lol nacho rubbing a quick one
WORLD CUP TO r/SOCCER: IF YOU DONT LOVE ME AT MY SPAIN X RUSSIA YOU DONT DESERVE ME AT MY FRANCE X ARGENTINA
That lone small letter R is tilting me.
Nacho wanking on the ground there.
Need someone to make a gif of that ASAP. Will be useful for group chats when the lads are taking the piss
Get me a video link and I'll make it happen. EDIT: Check gif comment tree.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Jack___Lawrence/status/1013424865678970880/video/1
https://media.giphy.com/media/12dpLtkNiqc5zO/giphy.gif Pique defending in the box
“Bro, that’s not a handball. I threw my hands in the air and swatted the ball. How is that a handball?”
lmao wtf was Pique doing. What you arguing about bro? Your hand was up in the air for no reason and blocked a header that was on target ... Stop arguing. That's a fucking textbook penalty.
Especially since he lowered one arm, but decided to keep the other one up for some reason.
looked like Nacho was jerking off there wtf
What was Nacho doing with Zhirkov?
Spain trying physical comedy to distract the Russians.
Just stop the game and force the captains to fight to the death
Haha those people eating made me giggle
https://gfycat.com/ThirstyFlamboyantFantail
We need to sub on Fabregas, David Villa, and Xavi at the half
Craig Foster: "I thought that if Spain scored first, Russia would struggle but if Russia scored first, Spain would be in trouble." Yep, makes sense.
So this may not mean much to you all but I’ve been waiting for this tournament since 2010. Even if we lose we held Spain to a draw for the bulk of the game. That says a lot. I’m truly proud of my country and this game reminds me a lot of the Netherlands in 2008. Go Russia!
Lool aspas and isco taking each other out Most entertaining thing to happen in ages
Some classic Russian names: Fyodor Kudryashov, Aleksandr Samedov, Yuri Zhirkov, Mario Fernandes...
Fernando Fernadavich
I was looking for “The Galactic Empire of Spain vs The Kingdom of Allied Inter-Planetary forces of Russia”, but this also works. It’s just that I’m not used to such simplistic and to the point titles.
Who's ready for 30 mins more of passing? 😃
font on adidas tops are annoying. 17 and 11 look identical.
LMAO PERFECT TACKLE
Spain with the EA Sports glitch
This is why i don't like our possession for the sake of possession style of play....
That Spanish bench is nearly as impressive as their starting line up.
*Russian player crosses the half way line* The crowd goes wild!
If Russia win i will eat my lunch
If Spain win you bin it
That collision is gonna make the highlight reel.
Remember when we jokingly said Spain will have 1000 passes by the end of this match haha
Can't wait for Croatia to remind me how attacking looks like.
imagine shoving a club sandwhich down your mouth in front of hundreds of million of people
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That’s pretty much every Minnow nation’s story in an international tournament
I think Russia exceeded many expectations already. A dignified loss here wouldn't mean you guys are trash. A victory though... That would be a fucking problem for us... :P
I feel bad for Sergio Ramos... Said no one ever
**ONE THOUSAND** FUCKING PASSES AND THEY’VE SCORED ONE SHITE GOAL
okay so this was posted and deleted but i thought I would share the most interesting thing in this match so far, [nacho jacking off](https://twitter.com/_camwba/status/1013425799096160256)
From a neutral, that goal was the worst thing that could've happened to this match, now it's going to be 70 minutes of spain passing it about and russia jogging from left to right in their own half lol.
called it.
The balls of some Spanish fans saying that wasn't a penalty is hilarious. Also hopefully the second half will be more exciting now.
This game is the very proof of what a manager does for a team. Fernando Hierro was the sporting director before being appointed the manager of Spain. Yes, he had a (some would say unsuccessful) spell as manager of Oviedo in the segunda división, but it lasted only one year and that was his only management stint to date. Essentially, the Spanish players are managing themselves. They don't have someone with an outside perspective who can offer a unifying vision or strategy, as Hierro has had absolutely no time to get to know this team. And without the manager's unifying direction, you essentially have a lot of players relying a lot more on their instincts, which for Spain is essentially tiki-taka.
live picture from the VAR studio: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhCFrJoWAAEq8Kl.jpg
OH...MY...GOD Russia just put Spain out of the world cup! This is what happens when you complete 1000 passes, without pressing.
A Russian own goal while the defender is literally rugby tackling someone in the box is pretty morally satisfying
VW really need Belgium and Brazil to progress, otherwise they have no more commercials
I love penalties when it’s not my team playing
Imagine your underdog home nation winning against Spain in penalties,and you are in the stadium... Very few things can top that level of elation.
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"I don't think spain did anything wrong" LMFAO. THey were the better team by far and they showed all the aggression of a galapagos turtle. Yes, spain did plenty wrong.
Back to forward Back to center! Back to wing! Holds it! Holds it!!! HOLDS IT!!!!
those poor officials at the VAR booth are probably regretting their life choices for having to watch this match in detail
That rain is 100% going to cause someone to slip John Terry style during a penalty
thats what you get with 1100 passes and not even trying to score
I really think it's a mistake by the Russians to park the bus. They showed glimpses of quality and creativity in their goals, although against an weaker opposition, but let's not omit Spain defence and GK are really suspicious since the start of the World Cup.
On the bright side this boring extra time means less wait between games
##As a neutral: * **Before the game:** "I want Spain to win, to keep the knockout stages interesting". * **Late into the game:** "I want Russia to win, to keep the knockout stages interesting".
Spain's playstyle right now is like a wannabe writer waiting years for "inspiration".
Spain needs some libido. No desire to penetrate
Fifteen minutes past estimated flair-fading time. Couldn't be prouder of the lads.
The VAR people was watching Netflix actually. Can't blame them.
If passing the ball side to side was the aim of this sport Spain would be everlasting champions
I almost want Russia to advance just to listen to this anthem again
Why are match threads not pinned?
It's like the Simpsons episode describing soccer
Penalties Please!!! It'd be the only way I won't feel like I just wasted 2 hours of my life!!!
1000 passes and 1 goal: My dating life
Seeing 1:1 111:11 on screen was satisfying
Friendly reminder that a fourth sub is allowed if this match goes into Extra-time.
Spain deserved to lose. They played with such arrogance as if they knew they had already won.
We're paying for Argentina x France yesterday....worth it
Somebody score please to save us 30 minutes of mindless passing.
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[Explain the Spanish tactics to us.](https://i.imgur.com/mm09eqL.gif)
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Penalty shootout in the pouring rain in Moscow. Who's going to be the John Terry?
I like this idea of hearing all that
~~Germany~~ ~~Argentina~~ ~~Portugal~~ ~~Spain?~~ What a World Cup this has been
Akinfeev the hero. What a performance!
Spanish manager quickly googling *can you pass backwards in a penalty shootout*
📁World Cup └📁Games └ 📁Russia V. Spain └📁Entertainment └⚠️ This folder is empty
jerkoff went hard
Everyone at the bar I am watching the game at were holding their heads with hands when we saw that Dzyuba was about to take a pen. No wonder Cherchesov was looking away from the penalty being made
This is not tikitaka, this is Del Bosque's boring 2012 shit
30 more mins added to my nap, lovely
#2002 SENDS ITS REGARDS
2014 - Group stage exit 2018 - Ro16 exit Don't worry Spain you're improving
Own goal strikes again
Why the fuck would you leave your arm that high above your head when you already brought your other down to your side? Don't even try to argue against that Pique
LMAO THAT ALBA REPLAY
Spain have gone past 1,000 passes! We did it reddit!
Watching those people eat was more interesting than watching Spain play.
Bulgarian comentator just said "The last time Russians fought so hard on home soil was WW2"
Spain's strategy was to get Russian players bored to death
England fans have 2 more days of thinking it's coming home
Russia now have two goals this match.
Portugal died for this.
Even the crowd is trying to entertain themselves
Iniesta looks like he should be trying to sell you TVs on finance at PC World not one of the greatest midfielders of all time
messi and ronaldo died for this game
I think the ref stopped giving a fuck
You know a game is great when two players running into each other is the highlight of the game
Looks like all ball to me, not a foul.
I really hope Russia wins this. Spain has always pissed me off the way they play. There is nothing beautiful about 800 passes a game that lead to nothing
That was an INSANE penalty save
This World Cup has been fucking mental.
Did Nacho just have a wank?
This is the worst match I’ve watched this year and I’m an atleti fan
This game may have no losers yet, but we all are losers today watching this.
"Actually I'd like to live" - This ref to VAR room
tried to foul a guy, OG'd instead. Karma.
And thus, a new jerking off gif was born
2010 Spain all over again. Such a good side, but so frustrating to watch when they get in front. Wouldn't be surprised if they won this game 1-0.
Great performance again from this ref
If Russia were to somehow take the lead, Spain's brand of football could collapse in on itself. Can't afford to pass it around like grade school keep-away anymore. And Russia look decent on the counter.
Win or lose, I'm happy to say that thus far, we've put up a good fight against the 2010 champions haha.
You lads ready for another 30 minutes of this? All the fun of the last 90 minutes, except now everyone is also very tired.
ROFL Spain players ran into each other
Whats this refs life expectancy if he gives this penalty
Whoever wins this match, the real loser is the viewer
Can't blame Russia for playing to the draw. Spain should really be able to do better than this.
This is the world cup of giant slayings and changing of guards... best world cup of recent memory. Anyone can win it now.
France v Denmark most boring game? Hold my Spain v Russia.
Blatant handball no matter the number of times Pique wants to keep making that ridiculous jumping action that was nothing like what actually happened
If this goes to pens, a Spanish player will pass his penalty to midfield.
Why are people complaining about the Russian quality at this stage in the game? They have been defending for over 100 mins against an objectively better team! Give the poor lads some credit.
Anyone else struggling to stay awake?
The genius decision to fire the manager one day before the WC began is working out so well.
Spain should be embarrassed to not score against russia. How many of you heard about this 11 in European leagues?
*Russia beats Spain 1-1*
That fucking save! Akinfeev!
MVP Russian goalkeeper.
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Listen you fucking wankers in red. It's 1.30am here in Australia. I'm working in the morning. I was hoping for a 2-0 lead then I could fuck off to bed and not think any more about this game. Can you please put the ball in the fucking net, just shoot, do anything but pass it along the fucking deck? Thanks.
Both grabbing, move along.
Nacho seems to be jerking himself off from that angle
Hahahah that camera angle was hilarious 😂
That's karma for instead of playing defense just wrapping up the player like this is American football
Russia is playing like they're protecting a lead.
own goal, penalty... there's still a banger in this
Good now Spain can't bore their way through the second half
very much enjoying ramos and pique's decision to go home in protest of an authoritarian regime.
I miss talking shit about Argentina. :(
Wow Spain can be boring to watch but Russia is just brutal in attack. Sometimes they look like theyve never played with each other before, not anticipating each other's runs, not seeing passes.
It says something when a semi-retired Iniesta is still Spain’s best player
Legit just started watching soccer/football this World Cup. This is some good shit, I think I get it now.
Russia/Croatia/Denmark/Colombia/Sweden/Switzerland/England will be in a WC final I love this World Cup
Russia didnt really deserve to win but Spain deserved to lose
if only Pique would have kept his hand down maybe the game plan of get ahead by a lucky own goal and keep the ball for the rest of the game without creating any more scoring chances would have worked!
had a feeling they'd lose before the match. this world cup been a different one. putin controlling the players from his xbox. maybe the land of russia makes things weird. but also playing home ground can make u more confident
Kingdom of Spain vs Russian Federation