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More penalty drama as Croatia reaches World Cup semifinals!
07.07.2018.
Photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
Croatia national football team secured World Cup semifinals berth after a penalty shootout win over Russia! On Wednesday, Croatia faces England for a place in the World Cup final.
RUSSIA - CROATIA 5:6 (2:2, 1:1, 1:1 - 11m)
2018 FIFA World Cup, quarterfinals.
Fisht Stadium, Sochi.
Referee: S. Ricci (Brazil)
Goals: 1:0 - Cheryshev (31'), 1:1 - Kramarić (39'), 1:2 - Vida (101'), 2:2 - Fernandes (115')
Cautions: Lovren (35'), Strinić (38'), Vida (101'), Gazinskii (109'), Pivarić (114')
Russia: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudriashov, Cheryshev (67' Smolov), Kuziaev, Zobnin, Golovin (102' Dzagoev), Samedov (54' Erokhin), Dzyuba (79' Gazinskii). Head coach: S. Cherchesov.
Croatia: Subašić, Strinić (74' Pivarić), Vida, Lovren, Vrsaljko (97' Ćorluka), Rakitić, Modrić, Perišić (63' Brozović), Kramarić (88' Kovačić), Rebić, Mandžukić. Head coach: Z. Dalić.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Following the group stage wins over Nigeria, Argentina, and Iceland, and the penalty shootout win over Denmark in the Round of 16, Croatia faces hosts Russia in Sochi in the final 2018 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash.
In the opening minutes, Russians came close to Subašić on a couple of occasions, Rebić responded, but there were no real opportunities until 31st minute, when Cheryshev struck from distance, curling it superbly in the top corner (1:0).
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
However, Croatia was quick to respond once again. In difficult moments, Mandžukić managed to cross for Kramarić, who headed in from close range on 39 minutes (1:1).
On one-hour mark, Perišić hit the woodwoork, and Subašić saved Smolov's effort into added time, despite struggling with hamstring injury.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Therefore, it was more extra-time for both Croatia and Russia, and it was Vida on 101 minutes who gave Croatia the lead. Modrić crossed from a corner-kick, and Vida's header just found the net to make it 2:1.
Russia did not surrender, though. Five minutes before time, Fernandes headed in Dzagoev's set-piece, and with the scoreline 2:2, another penalty shootout drama was inevitable.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
Subašić saved Smolov's penalty to start with, later on Akinfeev saved Kovačić's effort, and then Fernandes failed to find the target. Considering that Dzagoev, Ignashevich, and Kuziaev found the net for Russia, and Brozović, Modrić, Vida, and once again Rakitić to finish it off did the same for Croatia, Croatian celebrations were in order.
Croatia plays England on Wednesday, 11 July (20:00 CET), at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. On Tuesday, France and Belgium meet in the first semifinals match.
Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
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