World Cup

Croatia in a semifinal date with England

08 July 2018 - 00:27 By Reuters

Croatia ended Russia's unlikely World Cup dream when they won 4-3 on penalties to eliminate the gallant hosts after their dramatic quarterfinal in Sochi ended 2-2 after extra time yesterday.
Ivan Rakitic stroked home the winning penalty to send Croatia into a semifinal against England on Wednesday after a night of unremitting tension in Sochi, ending the remarkable campaign of a team that is ranked 70th in the world - the lowest in the World Cup.
Fyodor Smolov saw Russia's first penalty saved by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and, although Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev saved from a Mateo Kovacic kick, the hosts' fate was all but sealed when Mario Fernandes fired completely wide from their third penalty attempt.
In the previous 120 minutes, Denis Cheryshev had rifled Russia in front with a long-range thunderbolt, which was his fourth goal of the tournament, in the 31st minute
Andrej Kramaric stooped to head Croatia level six minutes before the end of the first half.
No further goals were scored in the second half.
Croatia then went ahead with a soft header in the 11th minute of extra time.
However, Brazilian-born Fernandes headed the hosts level with five minutes of extra time remaining to send the game to penalties.
Russia had already surpassed the expectations of their nation by reaching the last eight, notably ousting Spain on the way — also on penalties.
After a lively opening, the game dropped off, with sessions of head tennis in midfield, but it was Russia's more rustic approach which paid off first as they went ahead out of the blue.
Cheryshev collected the ball near the halfway line, exchanged passes with Artem Dzyuba and then curled a beautiful 25m shot past Subasic.
However, slack defending by Russia allowed Croatia to level eight minutes later.
Mario Mandzukic ran unchallenged into the penalty area and chipped a low ball back into the centre where unmarked Kramaric scored with a glancing header.
Croatia were agonisingly close to scoring on the hour when Russia's defence failed to clear the ball and Ivan Perisic's shot hit the inside of the post but rebounded agonisingly across the face of the goal.
Croatia appeared to have the tie in the bag after Vida's extra-time goal until Fernandes rose to head in a free kick and send both teams to their second penalty shootout of the tournament...

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