Russian Sandbaging Doesn't Shock Spain, but Akinfeev Does in Shootout

Only one goalkeeper has ever won the Ballon d'Or, and dude was a Russian.

Lev Yashin was a revolutionary at the position and a true national hero.

Igor Akinfeev hasn't quite attained mythical status yet, but the CSKA Moscow 'keeper and national team captain just took a huge step in that direction.

Russia may have been totally outclassed by Spain everywhere else on the field, but they were confident they had an advantage between the posts.

Not to mention the touchline.

 

On this day, Akinfeev was more crucial.

So much so that the Russian strategy was to get the game to him and take their chances.

It worked. In fact, the only goal that got past him in regulation came from one of his teammates.

This was the 2010 titlists to lose, and that's what they did.

There was hardly any Furia in La Furia Roja, showing only slightly more initiative than they did while stumbling past Morocco in group play. They dominated possession but were creatively dull.

Russia kept thwarting them by hanging back, and there were difficulties. In the 11th minute, after a free-kick from Isco, Sergei Ignashevich tried to drag Sergio Ramos to the ground -- not the wisest of ploys to begin with -- and ended up sending the ball to his own net.

 

Akinfeev had no chance.

Things were not going well at all for the hosts. Spanish control was such that the groundskeepers could've damn near mowed the grass in their defensive end. However, in the 40th minute, dudes screwed up on a vanilla chance.

 

Ask yourself why any defender in the box would raise his arm during play. Then ask why an accomplished dude like Gerard Piqué wouldn't know better. Of course a penalty was given to Russia.

Artem Dzyuba made no mistake, targeting the bottom corner, sending David De Gea the other way, and scoring the equalizer.

The second half was a total sandbag -- much worse than the first -- with no goals nor any good chances. The 1-1 draw went to extra time with no change.

The Russians got what they wanted. Their fate was now down to Akinfeev. To say he rose to the occasion is an understatement.

• He ESP'd accurately on Koke, Spain's third shooter, and
• He sent the nation into ecstasy with a brilliant left-foot save on Iago Aspas’ shot.

Every red dot tells a story:

 

Another favorite has been taken down, and while joy will rule the rest of this week in Russia ...

 

... a long pall of introspection and finger-pointing will be cast over Spain.

And really, they don't have anyone to blame but themselves. It should never have gotten to Akinfeev.

It definitely never got past him.