Spain had to throw their usual game plan out of the window against doggedly defensive Iran in World Cup Group B but they felt all the stronger after grabbing a scrappy 1-0 victory on Wednesday.
“It’s so difficult to play against a team that only wants to close you down, but these are the types of games that win you a World Cup,” said defender Dani Carvajal after Diego Costa’s rebounded goal took them level with Portugal on top of Group B.
Uruguay have still not delivered a top performance at the World Cup despite winning both of their games but their players were in no mood for apologies about their soporific 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Group A which saw them into the last 16.
Saudi Arabia’s dismal 5-0 defeat to Russia had Uruguay fans expecting a feast of goals in Rostov after their late, narrow 1-0 victory over Egypt but they only managed a scrappy strike from Luis Suarez after indecision from the opposing goalkeeper.
