World Cup 2018: Predicting the Round of 16 Matches

#7 Spain vs Russia

Spain

Spain has not dominated any of their group stage matches in the way they were expected to by many experts. On the other hand, Russia is the highest scoring team in this edition and have proved their critics wrong.

Spain got a late goal to draw with Morocco and were not playing up to the high standards they had maintained throughout the qualifying phase of the competition, though they will be seen as the favourites on their side of the draw.

Spain does have experience losing to an un-fancied home World Cup side, falling to South Korea back in 2002. However, this match will most probably prove to be a one-sided affair just like the one we saw in Russia's last group game where the hosts fell 3-0 to an Uruguayan side led by Cavani and Suarez.

Prediction- Spain to play well and score a late winner.