By any statistical measure, Spain dominated Iran in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday night. Spain controlled 78 percent of possession. Spain took 18 shots to Iran’s seven, five on target to Iran’s zero. Spain took three times as many corner kicks as Iran.
Yet when the referee blew his whistle to seal Spain’s 1-0 victory, the all-world Spanish players must have breathed an enormous sigh of relief. Iranian players collapsed onto the turf all around them, disconsolate at not earning at least a draw.
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