Team Croatia in a dramatic battle with Denmark won the first victory in the playoffs of the world Cup.
The beginning of the match immediately brought a new record – Denmark and Croatia have managed to share their goals for starting 217 seconds of the game. Already in the first minute the defender of Danes Mathias Jorgensen after the chaotic attack struck Subasic, but the Croats effort from Mandzukic quickly levelled the score.
The Gale-force debut was followed by a calm continuation. It seemed that team long before the final whistle, agreed to overtime, and only occasionally blew up dangerous attacks.
Overtime activity beginning Denmark, but one mistake almost cost them an early defeat. At 117 minutes, Modric brought Rebić one-on-one with Migelem, he beat the goalkeeper and was about to score into an empty net – goal in a desperate tackle from behind prevented goalscorer Jorgensen. Referee Nestor Supply without hesitation awarded a penalty, but for some reason did not remove the Dane for a foul last hope. Modric approached the 11-meter mark – Smigel guessed the intention of the Croat and without problems firmly parried a penalty.
In the penalty shootout, though took the blows Eriksen, Schone and Jorgensen, Smigel was also good, but still took one shot less. Croatia in the quarter-finals brought shot by Ivan Rakitic.
In the quarterfinals of the Croatia national team will play with Russia. The match will take place on 7 July in Sochi.
Croatia — Denmark 1:1 (3:2 in penalty shootout)
Goals: M. Jorgensen, 1 — Mandžukić, 4
Croatia: Subašić — Vrsaljko, Lovren, Strinić (Pivaric 81) — Brozović (Kovacic, 71), Rakitic — Rebić, Modric, Perisic (Kramaric, 97) — Mandžukić (Badelj, 108).
Denmark: Smigel — M. Jorgensen, Christensen (Shen, 46), Kjaer — Knudsen, Delaney (Krohn-Dehli, 98), Eriksen, Dalsher — Poulsen, Cornelius (Jorgensen, 66), Braithwaite (Sisto, 106).
Warning: M. Jorgensen
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