In the very last minute of Spain’s last group game, Fernando Hierro and all of Spain’s subs were suddenly off the bench, signalling to their players, a finger raised on each hand. They had done it; or perhaps more accurately, it had been done for them. The selección had just been promoted to first place in Group B from a distance, technology telling them their fate.
They had been 2-1 down to Morocco when Iago Aspas, on as a sub, had scored a late equaliser that took three minutes to be given. When eventually it was, everyone stuck in suspended animation until the video gave its verdict, news came through from the other match in this group. An even later goal from Iran had taken Spain from second place to first – and a very different path to the final.
Written by Sid Lowe at the Kaliningrad Stadium
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/25/spain-morocco-world-cup-match-report under the title “Spain held by Morocco but last-gasp Iago Aspas goal ensures they face Russia”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
