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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Harry Latham-Coyle

World Cup 2018 LIVE: Latest news from Spain vs Russia. plus Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe reaction, England news, predictions

The 2018 World Cup is well underway in Russia.

It’s day 18 and the second batch of last-16 fixtures take place following a thrilling Saturday that saw both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo depart Russia 2018. First, France took centre stage as a Kylian Mbappe masterclass helped send Argentina packing in a 4-3 victory, before European champions Portugal were eliminated by two bits of Edinson Cavani magic as Uruguay reached the quarter-finals.

Two more teams will join them in the last-eight today as 2010 world champions Spain and hosts Russia meet at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in the early kick-off at 15:00, before Croatia and Denmark collide from 19:00 in Nizhny Novgorod.

We will have all the latest news, views, pictures and video direct from Russia throughout the day as we pick up the pace at the biggest football tournament in the world.


Live Updates

17:00
I've been Harry Latham-Coyle for The Independent - thank you for joining me.
 
16:59
Croatia or Denmark will face the winner in the quarter-finals. They meet at 7pm BST tonight and we will have live coverage throughout the game:
 
16:57
That is just about it for today here. You can follow extra time and a potential penalty shootout between Spain and Russia with Molly Hudson:
 
FULL TIME
16:51
Extra time it is. Spain lacklustre and lacking in creativity throughout the 90 minutes, but Russia have offered little and look leggy. 
 
16:47
A string of corners for Spain. Pressure building, but Sergio Ramos heads over the bar. Four added minutes. Extra-time beckons
16:43
Igor Akinfeev has had a surprisingly quiet afternoon but he has just made a very good double save. He gets down low to his right to parry Andres Iniesta's 20-yard volley then reacts well to save Iago Aspas' follow up to his left. Five minutes left.
 
 
16:38
Ten minutes left. Spain also make a switch up front - Iago Aspas for Diego Costa. As things stand we are headed for extra time.
 
 
16:28
Fernando Hierro takes off one Real Madrid defender to bring on another. Dani Carvajal is on for Nacho. He'll add more going forward from right-back.
16:24
Time for Andres Iniesta. He comes on for David Silva. 
16:23
Final change for Russia. The goalscorer Artem Dzyuba is replaced by Fyodor Smolov. A very different player, but one who could trouble Spain on the break as they press for a winner.
16:18
30 minutes to go, and Russia introduce Denis Cheryshev. Aleksandr Samedov comes off. Spain playing with more urgency but still struggling to break down the Russian defence. 
 
16:04
Russia have made an alteration at half-time. Yuri Zhirkov comes off and is replaced by Vladimir Grant.
KICK OFF
16:03
The second-half begins at the Luzhniki.
16:02
Stonewall?
 
HALF TIME
15:49
The referee brings the first half to a close. Spain dominated much of it but created little aside from Sergei Ignashevich's own goal, and Artem Dzyuba levelled things up from the penalty spot after Gerard Pique handled. 1-1.
 
GOAL!
15:41
And Dzyuba confidently fires home from 12 yards. David De Gea went to his right, the ball the other way and Russia are level with half-time just five minutes away.
YELLOW CARD
15:40
PENALTY FOR RUSSIA. Gerard Pique leaps high with arm aloft and Artem Dzyuba's header cannons into it. Pique is booked.
15:36
First big chance for Russia. Aleksandr Golovin cuts inside and curls wide from the edge of the box. 
 

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