HOSTS RUSSIA MARCH ON
Russia’s remarkable march through their home World Cup continues with a remarkable victory over Spain in the last 16.
Spain opened the scoring through a Sergei Ignashevich own-goal, before an Artem Dzyuba penalty levelled the scores before half-time.
The match entered a penalty shoot-out and Iago Aspas saw his penalty – Spain’s fifth – saved by the legs of Igor Akinfeev to send the hosts through.
Russia will now play either Croatia or Denmark in the quarter-final on Saturday.
THREE AT THE BACK FOR RUSSIA
Russia team to play Spain: Akinfeev; Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudryashov; Fernandes, Kuzyaev, Zobnin, Zhirkov; Samedov, Golovin, Dzyuba.
ASENSIO STARTS FOR SPAIN
Spain team to play Russia: De Gea; Nacho, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Koke, Busquets; Silva, Isco, Asensio; Costa.
LINGARD: PENALTIES, TACTICS AND FALCAO
England forward Jesse Lingard talks tactics, penalties and Radamel Falcao as he faces the media before the last-16 game against Colombia on Tuesday.
SVEN HOPES FOR ENGLAND-SWEDEN CLASH
Sven-Goran Eriksson has backed England to beat Colombia and hopes they will play Sweden in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Eriksson twice led England to the World Cup last-eight stage during his reign as manager, and he has been impressed with Gareth Southgate‘s squad so far in Russia.
But the Swede warned that his countrymen are a tougher team to score against than strongly-fancied Brazil.
England meet Colombia in the last-16 on Tuesday, with Sweden or Switzerland looming as their quarter-final opponents if they knock out the South Americans.
“When you come down to the last-16, it is always difficult, and it should be difficult,” Eriksson told BBC 5 Radio live’s Sportsweek programme.
“I think England will beat Colombia, then I hope they will meet Sweden.
“I know that everyone wants to avoid Brazil, and maybe rightly, but I think it is easier to score against Brazil than against Sweden.
“Sweden are not playing the best football in the world, but to score against them is very difficult.”
DANILO FIT, MARCELO DOUBTFUL
Danilo is available to play for Brazil against Mexico after missing the team’s last two matches in Russia with a right hip injury.
Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar announced on Saturday that the Manchester City right-back could play in the round-of-16 match on Monday at Samara Stadium.
Marcelo, who left early in the group stage finale against Serbia because of back spasms, is still uncertain for the match against Mexico.
Lasmar said Marcelo would be evaluated again after Sunday’s training, adding that “we’re optimistic that he’ll be able to be ready for the game.”
Winger Douglas Costa, who plays for Juventus, continues to recover from a right thigh injury he sustained in the group stage and will not play against Mexico.
‘WE ARE ARGENTINES’
Argentina goalkeeper Willy Caballero has reacted to their last 16 exit at the hands of France on Saturday.
“We are Argentines, archers, different. Always together and in bad times much more”, he wrote on Instagram, alongside a picture of him with fellow keepers (from left to right) Franco Armani and Nahuel Guzman.
ENGLAND DEPART FOR TRAINING
England leave their team hotel for training ahead of Tuesday’s round of 16 match against Colombia. We will hear from the England camp at around 1:30pm, where Jesse Lingard is expected to face the media.
RONALDO TO RETIRE?
There has been some talk that Cristiano Ronaldo may retire from international football in the wake of Portugal’s last-16 exit from the World Cup after they were beaten 2-1 by Uruguay on Saturday.
The player himself – who will be 37 by the time the next World Cup comes around – refused to be drawn on the issue, however, when he was asked about his future.
“Now is not the time to talk about the future of players and coaches.
“We have a fantastic group, young and with a lot of ambition and for that reason I think the team will remain strong.”
MAGUIRE READY FOR COLOMBIA TEST
England defender Harry Maguire says it is a dream come true playing for England at the World Cup and is excited about taking on Colombia.
RUSSIAN FANS BACKING ENGLAND
Hosts Russia may be in action against Spain today but the Premier League has a big following and a lot of locals are also supporting England in the World Cup.
RONALDO AND MESSI HEADING HOME
The two biggest names in world football are heading home after their countries were knocked out of the World Cup on Saturday.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina were beaten 4-3 by France in a thriller in the afternoon, before Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal exited the competition in the evening after they were beaten 2-1 by Uruguay
MORNING EVERYONE
A very good morning to you. After plenty of goals and drama from the opening last-16 matches on Saturday, let’s hope for more of the same on Sunday.
Hosts Russia take on Spain in Moscow at 3pm BST, before the action switches to Nizhny Novgorod at 7pm for Croatia v Denmark.
We will have all the build-up to those matches, as well as the latest news from the England camp as they prepare to play Colombia on Tuesday.
Croatia and Denmark kick-off the second last-16 match of the day in just over 20 minutes.