Okocha Blames Defensive Lapses For First Half Goals Conceded By Russia & Spain

Published: July 01, 2018

Former Nigeria midfielder Austin Okocha has blamed defensive lapses for the two goals scored in the first half of the ongoing 2018 World Cup round of sixteen clash between Russia and Spain at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Spain took the lead in the 12th minute. Nacho won a free kick on the right wing following a foul by Yuri Zhirkov and Sergei Ignashevich put the ball past his own goalkeeper after Marco Asensio crossed the ball into the box.

Four minutes before halftime, the hosts equalized from the penalty spot through Artem Dzyuba; Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers awarded the spot kick after Gerard Pique handled the ball in the area.

In his halftime analysis on SuperSport, Okocha said : ''This situation here was a foul given away by Zhirkov and I don't really understand what the defender was doing, not looking at the ball.

''You should be able to put yourself, stand in a position where you can see the ball and see the man.''

On the goal conceded by Spain, the ex-Bolton Wanderers star stated : ''I don't know if he thought he was in the beach in Barcelona trying to play volleyball.''

The winner of the clash between Russia and Spain will tackle Croatia or Denmark in the quarterfinals on July 7.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : fifa.com