Russia Knocks Out Spain After Penalty Shootout

**Russia Beats Spain 4-3 On Penalties

**Score 1-1 after extra-time

**Russia to face Croatia or Denmark in the quarterfinals

 Russia sensationally knocked Spain out of the World Cup after coming out on top of a penalty shootout.

Missed penalties from Koke and Iago Aspas ensured Russia progressed to the last eight for the first time in the post-Soviet era, sparking joyous celebrations in Moscow.

CNN’s Alex Thomas said jubilant Russian fans were still partying outside the Luzhniki Stadium an hour-and-a-half after the game had finished.

“I can’t explain my feelings, it’s so wonderful,” one Russian fan leaving the stadium said.

Russian journalist Robert Ustian told CNN that he saw people crying and hugging each other in the aftermath of the penalty shootout.

“I thought Russia would be in the best case third in the group … when they went out of the group, I thought the mission is completed,” Ustian said.

Spain, by comparison, will now have to pick up the pieces from a tournament that was thrown into disarray just days before it began when coach Julen Lopetegui was dismissed after agreeing to become the new manager of Real Madrid.

The Spaniards’ exit also signaled the end for 34-year-old Andres Iniesta who, after the match, confirmed that he was retiring from international football after a glorious career.

“Sometimes the endings are not as one dreams,” said the former Barcelona player, a key member of the Spanish team which won two European championships and a World Cup.

“It is the saddest day of my career,” added Iniesta after his 131st and last appearance for Spain.

Defense overcomes attack

For all its possession and territory, the former world champion was far from convincing against a disciplined opponent.

Arten Dzyuba’s penalty before the break negated Sergey Ignashevich’s 12th-minute own goal and from there on in the Russians refused to cave, forcing the match into a penalty shootout after it had ended 1-1 following 120 minutes of play.

The lowest-ranked team coming into this tournament and considered by some as the worst side in the country’s history, the Russians surprised many by not only reaching the last 16 but doing so comfortably, steamrolling Saudi Arabia and Egypt and scoring eight goals in three games.

Striker Dzyuba had described Sunday’s last-16 encounter as a “match of a lifetime” and spoke of how the players needed to “die on the pitch” to have a chance of overcoming the 2010 World Champions.

Buoyed by a partisan crowed, the home team gave it their all and there were tired Russian bodies aplenty after a stubborn defensive display took the tie to extra time and penalties.

In the end, it was another astonishing result in a competition which has seen Germany, Argentina and also Portugal depart already and increases the likelihood of a first-time winner lifting the trophy.

Russia will face either Croatia or Denmark in the last eight, a match which will be played on July 7. -CNN