World Cup Match Moments: Day 17

Penalties. Love them or hate them, they dominated Sunday's knockout matches at the World Cup, and not just because both games ended in shootouts. Russia might not have been able to hang in with Spain were it not for Gerard Pique flinging his arm at a header in the area, drawing a penalty that Artem Dzyuba converted to make it 1-1. Luka Modric has had a masterful tournament for Croatia but was bested by Danish 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel in the dying moments of injury time when he could have won it from the spot.

In the shootouts, the goalkeepers stood even taller. Igor Akinfeev saved two of Spain's five shots as the hosts shocked the 2010 champions in Moscow. Schmeichel saved two more himself, cheered on by his famous father, longtime Manchester United net minder Peter Schmeichel, the best in the world in his day. Ultimately though, Schmeichel was matched and Denmark was denied by Croatian 'keeper Danijel Subasic, who joined Ricardo of Portugal as the only men to save three penalties in a single World Cup shootout.

Russia's Sergei Ignashevich, front, scores an own goal during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

Russia's Artyom Dzyuba celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Russia's Artyom Dzyuba salutes when celebrating scoring his side's opening goal during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Referee Bjorn Kuipers from Netherlands indicates a handball by Spain's Gerard Pique, front, during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Russia Soccer WCup Match Moments Day 17 Photo Gallery

Spain's Andres Iniesta falls during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Spain's Andres Iniesta, right, watches with teammates after Spain were defeated in a penalty shoot out by Russia in the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Spain head coach Fernando Hierro reacts during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

Spain head coach Fernando Hierro reacts after his team lost by penalty shootout during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev catches a penalty shot during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

Russia's Fyodor Smolov, right, dives as he celebrates with teammates after Russia defeated Spain in a penalty shoot out during the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, left on the pitch, looks at the ball after Denmark's Mathias Jorgensen scored the opening goal during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod , Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Croatia's Mario Mandzukic, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Saturday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, front, secures the ball next to Denmark's Yussuf Yurary Poulsen, right, during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Denmark's Yussuf Yurary Poulsen, right, goes for a header with Croatia's Ivan Strinic during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod , Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saves the penalty kick by Croatia's Luka Modric during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod , Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saves the decisive penalty during a penalty shoot out after extra time during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod , Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel misses a penalty shoot by Croatia's Ivan Rakitic after extra time during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod , Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Croatians players celebrate after the penalties during the round of 16 match between Croatia and Denmark at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. Croatia eliminates Denmark 3-2 on penalties after game ends 1-1. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Russia soccer fans celebrate their team victory against Spain in Red Square after the round of 16 match between Spain and Russia at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 1, 2018. Russia shocks Spain at the World Cup, beating the 2010 champion 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

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