World Cup 2018: Croatia beat Russia on penalties to set up semi-final against England
Russia's remarkable World Cup run ended in a heart-breaking quarter-final defeat on penalties as Croatia bounced back from a late extra-time equaliser to set up a last-four meeting with England.
Defender Mario Fernandes, who had brought his side level through a header in the 115th-minute, missed what proved to be the decisive spot-kick, with Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic making no mistake as he ended the hosts' remarkable run at this tournament.
Immediately after his penalty went in Rakitic was mobbed by his team-mates - in repeat scenes of Croatia's last-16 shootout victory over Denmark.
Despite defeat, the home fans broke into heartfelt applause as they cheered their beaten side long and loud after the final whistle in recognition of their achievements against the odds.
Brazil-born defender Fernandes' miss - blazed low and wide of the post - was the second of two failed Russian spot-kicks.
Fedor Smolov missed the first with a weak Panenka effort that was easily stopped by Danijel Subasic, while opposite number Igor Akinfeev stopped one - a fabulous low save from Mateo Kovacic.
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But in the end that was irrelevant. As was the stunning goal that gave Russia the lead in this, their first quarter-final appearance since 1970 and the days of the Soviet Union.
That came through a Denis Cheryshev first-half curler from outside the box, his fourth goal of the tournament and one of the finest at this World Cup.
But only eight minutes later an Andrej Kramaric header amid slack marking brought Croatia level, and after the break Ivan Perisic saw a low shot crash against the post and out across the face of goal as Zlatko Dalic's side began to control the game.
Yet they only led for the first time when Domagoj Vida's header found its way into the net through a crowd of players in the first half of extra time.
And after Fernandes' late equaliser from Alan Dzagoev's free-kick - the midfielder was making his first appearance as a substitute since suffering injury in Russia's opening game - you felt the momentum would be with Russia.
But victory was Croatia's, and it means they emulate their great side of 1998, who were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual winners France 20 years ago.
Next will be England, who reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 28 years with a 2-0 victory over Sweden earlier on Saturday.
The two teams will meet in Moscow on Wednesday at 19:00 BST, while Belgium and France will contest the first semi-final on Tuesday in St Petersburg, also at 19:00 BST.
World Cup 2018: Stunning Denis Cheryshev strike puts Russia 1-0 up against CroatiaA step too far for proud Russia
As the national anthem soared around the ground before kick-off, Russia fans unfurled two banners that read: "If not you, who? If not now, when?"
Here in Sochi on Friday, boss Stanislav Cherchesov was asked whether the meeting with Croatia was the biggest match of his players' lives.
Of course it was - it was a World Cup quarter-final on home soil.
All this for a team ranked 70th in the world who before the tournament were fancied by very few to make it out of their group.
However, Cherchesov did not want to put any more pressure on his players. "I hope that the most important games are still ahead of us," he said with a knowing smile.
It turns out his hopes will not be realised - at least not at this tournament.
But Russia can be hugely proud of what they have achieved, and not only in this performance where the players clearly showed they understood only too well that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was at stake.
They almost pulled off another sensational triumph - and it was recognised in the reaction of the incredible home support, who applauded their team off the pitch for a final time in emotional scenes.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Russia
1Akinfeev
2Figueira Fernandes
3Kutepov
4Ignashevich
13Kudryashov
7Kuzyaev
11Zobnin
19SamedovSubstituted forErokhinat 54'minutes
17GolovinSubstituted forDzagoevat 102'minutes
6CheryshevSubstituted forSmolovat 67'minutes
22DzyubaSubstituted forGazinskiyat 79'minutesBooked at 109mins
Substitutes
5Semenov
8Gazinskiy
9Dzagoev
10Smolov
12Lunev
14Granat
15Al Miranchuk
16An Miranchuk
18Zhirkov
20Gabulov
21Erokhin
23Smolnikov
Croatia
23Subasic
2VrsaljkoSubstituted forCorlukaat 97'minutes
6LovrenBooked at 35mins
21VidaBooked at 102mins
3StrinicBooked at 38minsSubstituted forPivaricat 74'minutesBooked at 114mins
10Modric
7Rakitic
18Rebic
9KramaricSubstituted forKovacicat 88'minutes
4PerisicSubstituted forBrozovicat 63'minutes
17Mandzukic
Substitutes
1Livakovic
5Corluka
8Kovacic
11Brozovic
12L Kalinic
13Jedvaj
14Bradaric
15Caleta-Car
19Badelj
20Pjaca
22Pivaric
Referee:
Sandro Meira Ricci
Attendance:
44,287
Match Stats
Home TeamRussiaAway TeamCroatia
Possession
Home35%
Away65%
Shots
Home13
Away18
Shots on Target
Home5
Away3
Corners
Home6
Away8
Fouls
Home25
Away18
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Russia 2(3), Croatia 2(4).
Penalties overPosted at 129'
Penalty Shootout ends, Russia 2(3), Croatia 2(4).
Goal!Posted at 128'
Goal! Russia 2(3), Croatia 2(4). Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 128'
Goal! Russia 2(3), Croatia 2(3). Daler Kuzyaev (Russia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 127'
Goal! Russia 2(2), Croatia 2(3). Domagoj Vida (Croatia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 126'
Goal! Russia 2(2), Croatia 2(2). Sergei Ignashevich (Russia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal!Posted at 126'
Goal! Russia 2(1), Croatia 2(2). Luka Modric (Croatia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Posted at 125'
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Mario Fernandes (Russia) right footed shot is close, but misses to the left. Mario Fernandes should be disappointed.
Posted at 124'
Penalty saved! Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Goal!Posted at 123'
Goal! Russia 2(1), Croatia 2(1). Alan Dzagoev (Russia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal!Posted at 122'
Goal! Russia 2, Croatia 2(1). Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Posted at 122'
Penalty saved! Fedor Smolov (Russia) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Penalties in progressPosted at
Penalty Shootout begins Russia 2, Croatia 2.
Posted at 120'+2'
Second Half Extra Time ends, Russia 2, Croatia 2.
Posted at 120'+1'
Dejan Lovren (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 120'+1'
Foul by Roman Zobnin (Russia).
Posted at 119'
Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 119'
Foul by Fedor Kudryashov (Russia).
Posted at 119'
Attempt saved. Roman Zobnin (Russia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 118'
Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 118'
Foul by Aleksandr Erokhin (Russia).
Posted at 117'
Attempt missed. Luka Modric (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Posted at 117'
Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 117'
Foul by Roman Zobnin (Russia).
Goal!Posted at 115'
Goal! Russia 2, Croatia 2. Mario Fernandes (Russia) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alan Dzagoev with a cross following a set piece situation.
BookingPosted at 114'
Josip Pivaric (Croatia) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
Posted at 113'
Hand ball by Josip Pivaric (Croatia).
Posted at 112'
Attempt saved. Daler Kuzyaev (Russia) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 111'
Corner, Russia. Conceded by Marcelo Brozovic.
Posted at 109'
Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 109'
Foul by Fedor Kudryashov (Russia).
BookingPosted at 109'
Yuri Gazinskiy (Russia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 109'
Mario Mandzukic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 109'
Foul by Yuri Gazinskiy (Russia).
Posted at 108'
Foul by Ante Rebic (Croatia).
Posted at 108'
Roman Zobnin (Russia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 106'
Mateo Kovacic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 106'
Foul by Yuri Gazinskiy (Russia).
Posted at
Second Half Extra Time begins Russia 1, Croatia 2.
Posted at 105'+3'
First Half Extra Time ends, Russia 1, Croatia 2.
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Source: bbc.com