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FBL-WC-2018-CRO-ISL
Iceland crash out of World Cup after Croatia loss
ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia, June 27, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Croatia secured first
place in Group D on Tuesday after a hard-fought 2-1 win over gallant Iceland
in Rostov-on-Don, setting up a World Cup last-16 tie with Denmark.
While most eyes were on Argentina and their do-or-die match with Nigeria
in Saint Petersburg, Croatia wrapped up top spot in the group thanks to a
slick second-half volley by Milan Badelj and a late strike by Ivan Perisic,
sandwiching a penalty equaliser from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
“We did everything we could, if you do that you can’t be disapointed, we
can look each other in the eye and can carry our heads high,” said Iceland
coach Heimir Hallgrimsson afterwards.
“We never gave up… kept on going.”
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said Iceland showed “good character,
discipline, and fight” but that even though his side were already through to
the last 16, “only a win was satisfactory” for him.
With three wins out of three in Group D, “the focus now moves to the
Denmark game, it will be a moment of truth”, he said.
Dalic rested most of the side that thumped Argentina 3-0, with only
captain Luka Modric and winger Perisic keeping their places.
“We gave the squad a chance to play in the World Cup but from this moment
on the group stage is over, we have done our job,” he said.
Needing a point to make certain of top spot, Croatia dominated early on,
with Real Madrid pair Modric and Mateo Kovacic dictating the tempo without
creating clear chances.
Midway through the opening period the Nordic side, who had beaten Croatia
in qualifying for Russia, took control, threatening from set-pieces and
interceptions.
On 25 minutes a trademark long throw from Iceland captain Aron Gunnarsson
was headed dangerously across the goalmouth by the industrious Hordur
Magnusson.
Everton’s Sigurdsson tested goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic from a free-kick,
while Birkir Bjarnason, who suffered a nosebleed early on, had shots blocked
in quick succession.
Just before the break, a drive by Alfred Finnbogasson whistled past the
post. Then on the stroke of half-time, Gunnarsson forced an acrobatic save
from Kalinic.
– ‘Let’s go further’ –
Soon after the break the match turned when Fiorentina midfielder Badelj
first clipped the bar with a long-range drive, then made no mistake soon
after on 53 minutes.
The 29-year-old got his right foot over a deflected cross and fired a
volley wide of Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson to give Croatia the
lead.
“Now we can concentrate on preparations for the knockout stage,” said
Badelj. “This is a big new win for Croatia. There is no special celebration,
let’s go further, step by step through the tournament.”
Iceland had to claim their first ever World Cup victory to have a chance
of advancing and, urged on by fans chanting their famous Viking thunderclap,
almost equalised immediately.
First, a flick-on from another Gunnarsson long throw found Sverrir Ingason
whose header was tipped over by Kalinic.
Moments later Ingason, who plays his club football for Rostov, went even
closer but his header hit the crossbar.
On 73 minutes Bjarnason fluffed a close-range opportunity, but Iceland’s
lifeline arrived a minute later when Dejan Lovren handled a cross by
Sigurdsson in the penalty area.
Sigurdsson had ballooned a penalty over the bar against Nigeria, but this
time dispatched his shot into the roof of the net with Kalinic diving the
wrong way.
But as Iceland strained for the winner and a surprise berth in the last
16, it was Croatia who threatened more, free-kicks by Perisic and Rakitic
worrying Halldorsson.
Then on 90 minutes, Perisic delivered the final blow.
Sent into space on the left of the area the Inter Milan winger blasted a
shot that ended both the game and Iceland’s World Cup, putting Croatia
through to a match against the Danes in Nizhny Novogrod on Sunday.
“We did not look the best on the pitch today, but it’s important to win on
such occasions,” said Perisic. “Denmark are strong. We need to play much
better if we want to reach the quarter-finals.”
BSS/AFP/MSY/1002 hrs