World Cup hosts Russia out to shock Spain

epa06840053 Noureddine Amrabat (L) of Morocco and Sergio Ramos of Spain in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group B preliminary round soccer match between Spain and Morocco in Kaliningrad, Russia, 25 June 2018.

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Saturday Jun 30, 2018. 12:00

Spain are set to take on Russia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 game at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 16h00 CAT.

The Red Fury advanced to this round after finishing at the top of Group B standings ahead of runners-up Portugal.

As a result, Spain are back in the Round of 16 having failed to advance beyond the group stage at the 2014 World Cup as the defending champions.

The European giants will be hoping to reach the quarter-finals for the seventh time since the inception of the global tournament in 1930.

Diego Costa and Andres Iniesta are the Red Fury's key players and they will look to help their team overcome the tournament hosts.

Meanwhile, Russia progressed into the Round of 16 after finishing second in Group A behind Uruguay.

The Golden Eagles are back in this stage for the first time since 1986. They were eliminated in the 1986 World Cup Round of 16 as Soviet Union.

The European side are keen to reach the quarter-finals for the fifth time in the history of the global tournament.

Aklesander Golovin and Denis Cherychev are important players in the Golden Eagles squad and they will be keen to inspire their team to victory.

In head-to-head stats according to the FIFA.com, Spain and Russia have locked horns 12 times.

The Red Fury have won six games compared to the Golden Eagles' two victories, while four games ended in a draw,.