40th Match FIFA World Cup 2018
40th Match FIFA World Cup
2018
CROATIA Beat the ICELAND
2-1 in World Cup 2018
v Croatia
won a FIFA World Cup group for the first time
v Iceland
exit Russia 2018 with heads high
v RELIVE: As
it happened, stats, more
Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 in Rostov-on-Don in an exciting match
in which the Icelanders also had one eye on events in Saint Petersburg, where
Argentina and Nigeria were also battling to qualify from Group D. Yet in
compiling their third straight win, Croatia condemned their opponents to an
early exit from the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
Iceland made them work for the points, though. Overrun by the
Croatians in the early stages, they began to push forward on learning that
Argentina had taken the lead in their game, creating four good chances in the
closing ten minutes of the first half. Alfred Finnbogasson passed up one of
them, while Croatia keeper Lovre Kalinic did his bit to keep the game goalless.
Milan Badelj put Zlatko Dalic’s side ahead with a right-footed
strike eight minutes after the restart. Sverrir Ingason then thumped a header against
the bar before Birkir Bjarnason contrived to miss a gilt-edged chance.
Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled the northerners level from the spot to
send their fans wild, and when Argentina scored their late winner, Iceland
found themselves just a goal away from going through. Yet their dreams were
shattered in the final minutes when Ivan Perisic scampered clear to secure the
points for Croatia.
Team reporter analysis
Petur Hreinsson, with Iceland [Follow on Twitter | Facebook]
Iceland can be proud of their performance. Though Croatia were without several first-choice players, Iceland showed no little skill, which was rewarded with a goal. Following coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s instructions to the letter, they kept their shape and blunted Croatia’s attack. Ultimately, however, missed chances cost them the opportunity to advance to the next round.
Petur Hreinsson, with Iceland [Follow on Twitter | Facebook]
Iceland can be proud of their performance. Though Croatia were without several first-choice players, Iceland showed no little skill, which was rewarded with a goal. Following coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s instructions to the letter, they kept their shape and blunted Croatia’s attack. Ultimately, however, missed chances cost them the opportunity to advance to the next round.
VVjekoslav Paun, with Croatia [Follow on Twitter | Facebook]
Croatia made nine changes in all, making it hard to gauge how they would
perform defensively. Though the Vatreni made
an impressive start, Iceland wrested possession and began carving out chances.
Croatia ultimately secured the points thanks to goals from Badelj and Perisic,
which capped another impressive performance for the Balkan side.
Croatia made nine changes in all, making it hard to gauge how they would
perform defensively. Though the Vatreni made
an impressive start, Iceland wrested possession and began carving out chances.
Croatia ultimately secured the points thanks to goals from Badelj and Perisic,
which capped another impressive performance for the Balkan side.
Budweiser Man of the Match
Milan Badelj took a difficult chance with great aplomb, getting his foot over a bouncing ball to put his side ahead. And there was more to his performance than just scoring, as he teamed up to perfection with Luka Modric in midfield.
Milan Badelj took a difficult chance with great aplomb, getting his foot over a bouncing ball to put his side ahead. And there was more to his performance than just scoring, as he teamed up to perfection with Luka Modric in midfield.
The stat
1 - Croatia have topped a world finals group for the first time in their history, courtesy of three wins in their three games.
1 - Croatia have topped a world finals group for the first time in their history, courtesy of three wins in their three games.
What’s next
Croatia-Denmark, 1 July, Nizhny Novgorod
Iceland, eliminated
Croatia-Denmark, 1 July, Nizhny Novgorod
Iceland, eliminated
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