Croatia is where it should be. With agony, after extra time and penalties, reached the semifinals, the peak of his best generation. Where Spain should be - and did not come by own demerits -, the Croats also suffered a calvary to break the effective Russian defense. They equalized an initial goal, they went ahead in extra time and had to overcome the swipe that led to the shootout. There, with a bit of luck - the one that brought the Modric penalty to the net - Rakitic signed Russia's surrender.
They had to row and very much the Croats. The Russian plan was good with Cheryshev's goal, stellar again. Russia has a tradition of resisting against superior rivals, and for more than half an hour turned the forecasts into wet paper. It was not necessary the three centrals or the trenches dug before Spain. It was enough to slow down, force long play and control the Vrsaljko centers until Denis raised the country. He did after starting in the middle, lean on the giant Dzyuba and throw a stunning left that left Subasic dry. Unthinkable.
The game was in the place dreamed by the hosts, but in a World Cup such a mistake a mistake is a treasure. A poorly measured output of Fernandes left a two for two that the Russian defenders defended from penalty. None bothered Mandzukic in the internship and Kramaric finished more alone than in a workout.
The tie awarded an unknown Croatia. Little appeared the guides, Rakitic and Modric, plugged in the medullary. In the exchange of pelotazos, Dzyuba was the king. Enough to win the rest without further shocks.
Without spaces between lines, Modric was delayed in the second half to take command. Croatia thanked him and governed the meeting, although without much clarity in the arrival. That's why the best occasion came in a badly defended balloon by Akinfeev who fell at the feet of Perisic in the area. It was outlined, crossed and the post spat the occasion. It was the last thing he did before being replaced by Dalic.
The changes made the picture worse. Cherchesov withdrew Cheryshev, exhausted. Smolov came in, with a good foot, but could hardly show it because the Russian priority was to close spaces. He gave it to generate noise from the right and serve Fernandes, the best local footballer, who deposited on the head of Erokhin a goal ball. Topped high
The fear of losing put lead to the ball. Only Modric handled it with ease, although he found little response among his people. Kovacic entered to hurry the changes and seconds later fell Subasic. I had to endure until the extension. Smolov tried it on the extension. The goal was miraculous water after the end and the game was unleashed in overtime. Vida seemed to kill the match in a corner well thrown by Modric and poorly defended by the Russians. And Fernandes resurrected Russia with another header defended fatally by the Croats. A tremendous outcome for a bad game resolved on penalties, where the Croats had more courage and more faith. They failed Fernandes, the best of the Russians, and Kovacic. Subasic rebuilt his muscles to stop Dzagoev from his Panenka. And Rakitic scored the decisive shot. Ivan The terrible.
