Spain vs. Russia: 5 Most Crucial Players for Each Basketball Powerhouse

A spot in the gold-medal game will be on the line when Spain and Russia square off for the second time during the London Olympics. These five impact players for each team will have a major say in who claims that spot. 

During the first go-around, the Russians rode an 18-point comeback in the second half to produce a remarkable upset victory against the heavily-favored Spaniards. 

The expectations are a bit more level during the elimination rounds, but can Russia pull off the shocker for a second time, or will Spain advance to a final-game showdown, most likely against Team USA?

Spain: Pau Gasol

The most versatile seven-footer in the Olympics, Pau Gasol has been contributing in every facet of the game for the Spanish squad. 

Whether he's scoring on the low block or knocking down shots from behind the three-point arc, Gasol has provided a nice scoring punch of 18.8 points per game, giving him a clear lead on the team. 

He'll need to continue spreading out defenses when he squares off against Russia. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 18.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, 0.2 steals

Russia: Andrei Kirilenko

If Pau Gasol is considered a versatile big man for Spain, then we need a new word to describe Andrei Kirilenko. Calling him versatile may be selling him short. 

Whenever the Russians need someone to fill a role, AK47 is the man to do so. 

He can score, rebound, pass and defend with the best of them, and has been one of the best players in the tournament, regardless of position. 

While shooting over 58 percent from the field, Kirilenko has led the Russians in points, rebounds, blocks and steals. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 blocks, 2.2 steals

Spain: Marc Gasol

The other seven-footer for Spain, Marc Gasol outperformed his older brother in the quarterfinal matchup against France. 

If he can do so yet again, Russia is going to have an awfully difficult time slowing down the Spanish frontcourt. 

Between his defensive efforts and his passing skills, Gasol can and will impact the semifinal matchup in quite a few ways. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 12.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.2 steals

Russia: Alexey Shved

The long-haired Russian floor general can be equal parts good and bad during the same game. Which Alexey Shved shows up is going to be a deciding factor in this semifinal contest. 

When Shved starts trying to get flashy, he gets a little bit careless with the ball and starts racking up the turnovers. However, when he exercises a bit of caution, his court vision allows him to create a lot of easy opportunities for his teammates.

Shved is also a solid shooter from distance, and will have to drain his attempts as he tries to avoid the trees in the paint.

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 0.2 blocks, 1.0 steals 

Spain: Serge Ibaka

Even in limited action, Serge Ibaka has proven to be a menace in the paint, swatting nine shots away over the course of six games and 15 minutes per game on the court. 

His mid-range jumper hasn't been falling lately, but Ibaka generally has the good sense to avoid taking shots when he's not knocking them down. 

Ibaka is a huge luxury for Spain, a player who can come off the bench and allow one of the Gasol brothers to rest without experiencing any drop-off in play. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 8.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, 0.2 steals

Russia: Timofey Mozgov

The Russian's only seven-footer, Timofey Mozgov will draw the tough assignment of working against a Gasol brother whenever he's on the court. 

Although he's only served in a backup role for the Denver Nuggets and is most well-known for being brutally posterized by Blake Griffin, Mozgov has been a huge player for Russia during the Olympics. 

He's thrown down a few slams of his own and provided the team with an extraordinarily efficient offensive performance, shooting 68.9 percent from the field. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.7 blocks, 0.3 steals

Spain: Rudy Fernandez

The third-leading scorer for Spain, Rudy Fernandez has been a solid offensive player for his country during the London Olympics. 

His shot may be more inconsistent than other players around him, but the shooting guard has been the team's biggest threat from the perimeter, leading the team in three-pointers made. 

Through six games, Fernandez has also recorded a team-high 20 assists, as he hasn't hesitated to swing the ball around to open teammates. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 8.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 blocks, 0.8 steals

Russia: Vitaliy Fridzon

Last time the two teams played, during the group stage, Vitaliy Fridzon exploded for 24 points and helped Russia overcome an 18-point deficit. He also managed to knock down a game-winner against Brazil at the buzzer. 

Another big performance from the 6'5" combo-guard will be necessary if Russia hopes to upset the Spaniards once more during the London Olympics. 

Fridzon has played with ice water in his veins throughout the tournament, never once getting fazed by the pressure. Keeping a level head against Spain will be crucial. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 10.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 blocks, 0.7 steals

Spain: Juan-Carlos Navarro

Juan-Carlos Navarro's groin is generating more headlines than his play right now, after he was punched in the nether-regions by Nicolas Batum at the end of Spain's quarterfinal victory over France. 

The Spaniards will need for that to change, and a nice starting point would be some efficient shooting from the field. 

Navarro has shot a putrid 31.4 percent from the field thus far, better than only Sergio Llull and Victor Claver. 

He must establish himself as a viable option from the perimeter, and a couple early makes would do the trick. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.0 blocks, 0.5 steals

Russia: Viktor Khryapa

Russia would love for Viktor Khryapa to start hitting some shots from the field and improving upon his 41 percent shooting, but the squad would probably rather he continue his excellent work in the facilitating department. 

The power forward has done a wonderful job finding teammates out of the post, dishing out 28 assists with only nine turnovers through the first six games in London. 

If he can keep that up while playing shutdown defense, he'll overcome his shooting deficiencies. 

Tournament Per-Game Stats: 7.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.7 steals