Russia 2-2 Croatia (3-4 pens): Penalty win books England meeting
Croatia overcame World Cup hosts Russia 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra-time to set up a semi-final showdown with England.
Ivan Rakitic struck the crucial spot-kick after Fedor Smolov and Mario Fernandes failed from the spot for Russia to settle a gritty quarter-final in Sochi on Saturday evening and Croatia are now now 9/2 with Sky Bet to win the tournament.
Denis Cheryshev's stunner (31) had earned Russia a first-half lead in front of a boisterous home crowd, but that was cancelled out eight minutes later when Andrej Kramaric headed in.
Domagoj Vida (100) headed Croatia in front in extra-time, but Mario Fernandes equalised five minutes from the end to take the game to penalties, but Stanislav Chercheshov's players were unable to replicate their shootout success over Spain and exit their own tournament at the quarter-final stage.
GOAL VIDEOS
Russia 1-0 Croatia: Denis Cheryshev - 31'
GOAL! Wow! Cheryshev runs on to a perfectly weighted pass and bends a first-time shot with his left boot into the top corner of the net pic.twitter.com/gfcsLGBEtR
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2018
Russia 1-1 Croatia: Andrej Kramaric - 39'
GOAL! Mandzukic breaks down the left and chips in a cross which Kramaric meets well with his head to get Croatia back on level terms pic.twitter.com/jBsGNLJiSq
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2018
Russia 1-2 Croatia: Domagoj Vida - 101'
GOAL! Modric whips in a corner. Russia fail to pick up Vida and his somewhat tame head creeps inside the post pic.twitter.com/FUjtPXprH4
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2018
Russia 2-2 Croatia: Mario Fernandes - 115'
GOAL! Dzagoev puts in a wicked delivery into the danger area and Fernandes meets it beautifully to level up the tie in extra time pic.twitter.com/4HxcXfT6Xg
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2018
Opta match facts
- Croatia are the second team to win two penalty shootouts at a single World Cup tournament – the other was Argentina in 1990 (against Yugoslavia and Italy).
- Russia are the first host country to be eliminated at the quarter-final stage of a World Cup since Mexico in 1986.
- Croatia have qualified for just their second World Cup semi-final, also reaching that stage in 1998.
- Denis Cheryshev scored four goals for Russia at the 2018 World Cup – only England striker Harry Kane has scored more (6).
- Russia’s Artem Dzyuba was involved in five of Russia’s 10 goals at the 2018 World Cup (3 goals, 2 assists).
- 14 of the 20 goals conceded by Russia at the World Cup have been scored via set pieces, including six of the seven they conceded at the 2018 World Cup.
- Croatia have now had eight different scorers at the 2018 World Cup – only Belgium (9) have had more.
- Only one of the last six World Cup matches to go to extra-time has not gone to penalties – the 2014 final between Germany and Argentina.
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