Evening! And welcome to our live coverage of today’s second last-16 clash, as unbeaten Croatia take on Ireland-slayers Denmark.
I think we’re just about recovered from today’s earlier clash. Have you not heard? Well, brace yourself — Russia have beaten Spain!
Do not adjust your sets, the hosts have actually knocked the 2010 winners out on penalties 4-3 and are now into the quarter-finals. Get the full picture by reading our match report here.
Kick-off between Croatia and Denmark is just 40 minutes away in Nizhny Novgorod at 7pm.
We’ve seen so many upsets at this summer’s World Cup, but who’s going to come out on top tonight in this all-European battle?
Poll Results:
Let’s get some team news…
Ok now, deep breath everyone, as we're not done yet 😓#RUS are into the quarter-finals. Who's joining them? #CRO or #DEN?
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
Here are your 22 starters for #CRODEN pic.twitter.com/14GPt5kKmd
So, today’s teams will line out as…
Croatia: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Brozovic, Rebic, Modric, Perisic, Mandzukic.
Subs: Livakovic, Corluka, Kovacic, Kramaric, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivaric, Lovre Kalinic.
Denmark: Schmeichel, Knudsen, Kjaer, Mathias Zanka Jorgensen, Dalsgaard, Christensen, Delaney, Eriksen, Poulsen, Cornelius, Braithwaite.
Subs: Lossl, Krohn-Dehli, Vestergaard, Kvist, Nicolai Jorgensen, Dolberg, Fischer, Larsen, Lerager, Schone,
Sisto, Ronnow.
The teams are in the building for #CRODEN!
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
Where in the world are you watching the game tonight?
👀 TV listings 👉 https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO
📱 Live Blog 👉 https://t.co/tnoXzqtBad pic.twitter.com/UtzM1TCk9u
The teams are out, the national anthems are done and dusted and we’re just about ready to get underway.
KICK-OFF: We’re underway!
GOAL! CROATIA 0-1 DENMARK (JOERGENSEN 1)
GOOOOOOOOAAAAL!!! We have a goal in the opening minute, can you believe it? What a start for Denmark as Mathias Joergensen scuffs the ball into the back of the net following a period of utter panic from Croatia. They failed to clear a long throw-in towards the back post with Joergensen first to the ball to fire his side ahead.
Mathias Jorgensen of Huddersfield Town scores a scrappy goal in the second minute... do Danish fans care? Do they heck.#CRO 0-1 #DEN
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 1, 2018
Game on! #rtesoccer #worldcuphttps://t.co/5rbws7Qujj pic.twitter.com/DuFrbCqJzS
GOAL! CROATIA 1-1 DENMARK (MANDZUKIC 4)
GOOOOOOAAAL!!! Another goal, it’s two in the space of four minutes! Croatia level with what is effectively their first attack of this quarter-final. Once again it’s absolutely calamitous defending inside the box. Denmark fail to clear and Mario Mandzukic is on hand to smack the ball into the bottom left corner with a poacher’s finish. Amazing!
Mario Mandzukic capitalises from a very fortunate/unfortunate ricochet in Danish area and we are level. Danish lead lasted all of 90 seconds #CRO 1-1 #DEN #RTEsoccer #WorldCuphttps://t.co/5rbws7Qujj pic.twitter.com/KMttAoMcU8
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 1, 2018
Ivan Perisic with a free-kick which slams off the wall and away for a corner. This game has begun at a relentless pace — will it be a similar goal fest to yesterday’s dramatic 4-3 between Argentina and France?
Croatia really getting so many bodies in the box so far, every time they look to pass or short cross from the channel.
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) July 1, 2018
Impressive commitment and will make Denmark suffer sooner or later (or we'll have eight counter-attack goals in 12 minutes, whatever) #CRO #DEN #WorldCup
No goal in almost 15 minutes now, this game needs to pick up the slack. There was a minor shout for a penalty as Mario Mandzukic went over inside the area. He demanded the decision go to VAR, but the referee waved play on and no spot-kick was given. The Juventus striker ain’t a happy camper.
Save! Danijel Subasic is called into action. Christian Eriksen links up brilliantly with Andreas Cornelius inside the box, with the striker forcing a low save from Subasic at his near post to keep it all square. A good break from Denmark, who are posing a serious threat with the Tottenham man pulling strings in the final third.
Close! Croatia rack up three shots in quick succession but none of them can beat Kasper Schmeichel. The Leicester goalkeeper did well to parry a long-range effort from Rakitic, before two efforts in quick succession went astray from Perisic. He really should have done a lot better, but the Inter winger blasts his half-volley into Row Z.
Shot! Christian Eriksen lets fly from a tricky angle. The playmaker seemed almost to try and lob goalkeeper Subasic, and he very nearly did — Eriksen’s shot curled just narrowly wide of the top corner with some serious bend behind it. That would have been very cheeky.
Close! And the other end Croatia break down the right flank. The ball is sped towards Ivan Rakitic, who has a go with oceans of space around him inside the box. His shot drags inches wide of the bottom corner — close but no cigar, as it were. End-to-end at the minute.
There will be just one minute of stoppage time to come at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: CROATIA 1-1 DENMARK
That start really was something 😅#CRODEN pic.twitter.com/HBWyIzYJDU
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
Well, what did we make of that? A barnstorming opening four minutes with two of the quickest goals in World Cup history. Since then Croatia have maintained the upper hand but Denmark have always been a threat any time Christian Eriksen gets the ball at his feet — predictably.
More action coming up shortly!
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway!
Six players have now scored for #CRO at the 2018 #WorldCup:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 1, 2018
⚽️ Luka Modric
⚽️ Ivan Rakitic
⚽️ Ante Rebic
⚽️ Ivan Perisic
⚽️ Milan Badelj
⚽️ Mario Mandzukic
No team has produced more goalscorers during this tournament. pic.twitter.com/CzEQ2kbMFs
Very nip-and-tuck second period after five minutes. Many have said Croatia have the potential to go all the way at this year’s World Cup, but they are playing below themselves this evening. All that intrepid excitement and incisive attack which was on display during their 3-0 win over Argentina is lacking today. Denmark more than holding their own.
A good break from Denmark following a bursting run from Yussuf Poulsen down the right wing. The RB Leipzig forward crosses into the box, but Andreas Cornelius can’t manage to steer an effort on target to test Danijel Subasic, as he balloons his strike well wide as he loses his balance.
Introduction of Schone has helped #DEN gain a foothold in midfield. They’ve been better of two sides since break
— Patrick Boyland (@Paddy_Boyland) July 1, 2018
Thomas Delaney surges through midfield, taking on all comers before running out of steam and seeing his shot deflected back off his own leg and wide. It was a bit like Kylian Mbappe’s storming run against Argentina yesterday, but not as quick. Or effective. Or as good. Top marks for effort though.
Despite his name, Thomas Delaney’s links to Ireland are quite tenuous. His surname came from his great grandfather who moved to America during the famine. “I don’t think many Danish people realise that Delaney is an Irish name,” he said a few years back. There’s a good bit of background information on the talented midfielder (who just last month signed for Borussia Dortmund) in this piece.
This clash has really slowed down throughout the second half. If this pattern continues, we could definitely be set for another last-16 extra-time bonanza. With two goals in the opening four minutes, we might have expected this to be a thriller. It has not lived up to the billing…. yet.
A shot! Croatia wake up from their momentary lull thanks to some incisive dribbling from Ante Rebic. The winger cuts inside from the right, but his long-range effort curls just wide of the target.
Mateo Kovacic has gone down holding his shoulder. The Real Madrid midfielder is only on the pitch 10 minutes after being introduced off the bench, but took a heavy knock vying for possession. The 24-year-old has gone off to receive some temporary medical attention.
Lasse Schoene tries to spin the ball into the top corner with the outside of his boot. He makes a decent connection with his strike, but he’s just too far out to try and beat Subasic between the sticks. Just two minutes to go.
Chance! Late in the day Ivan Rakitic lets fly from just outside the box. It’s a fine strike from the Barcelona man and it very nearly beats Kasper Schmeichel and creeps into the bottom corner. Narrowly wide.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time to come at the end of the second half.
FULL-TIME: CROATIA 1-1 DENMARK
We’re heading for extra-time…
🇭🇷🆚🇩🇰
— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 1, 2018
Extra-time is needed. Still 1:1.#CRODEN #WorldCup #Vatreni🔥
A rather front-loaded affair, if we're being honest.
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
A flurry of goals around 118 minutes to bookend the game? 😃 (A positive outlook on life is key)#CRODEN pic.twitter.com/newqjrnFBH
It’s been tight, and dull. But it’s going to get better. I can feel it.
Saturday Night: Best World Cup ever.
— Cormac (@BlueCorpse) July 1, 2018
Sunday Night: Worst World Cup ever. #Worldcup2018Russia
EXTRA-TIME: We’re back underway!
A couple of chances in quick succession for Denmark as Jonas Knudsen and goalscorer Mathias Joergensen cause all sorts of problems down the left flank. Knudsen was fouled inside the box but chose not to go down — he may live to regret that decision as his cross into the box was easily beaten away.
Substitution for Croatia: Andrej Kramaric replaces Ivan Perisic.
This looks a lot more like the #CRO we saw in countless friendlies and qualifiers before the #WorldCup
— Matteo Bonetti (@TheCalcioGuy) July 1, 2018
Shot! Lasse Schoene cuts inside and flashes a chance just wide of the post. Good play from the Danish substitute.
Croatia pushing and pushing but really there’s been a serious lack of clinical edge in the final third. Mario Mandzukic has run himself into the ground, but has also been very isolated on his own up front with a lack of service.
EXTRA TIME HALF-TIME: CROATIA 1-1 DENMARK
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway!
Chance! Only on the pitch a matter of moments, Pione Sisto makes an immediate impact for Denmark. The Celta Vigo winger flashes a shot inches wide of the bottom corner.
Could someone please score. Put us out of our misery here. #CRO #DEN pic.twitter.com/ws36M8FXw9
— Gavin Sheridan (@gavinsblog) July 1, 2018
PENALTY TO CROATIA!
Mathias Joergensen is shown a yellow card after sliding through the back of Ante Rebic after he rounded Kasper Schmeichel. Croatia have the chance to take the lead in extra-time, the drama!
SAVE! KASPER SCHMEICHEL SAVES LUKA MODRIC’S PENALTY!
THE DRAMA! Kasper Schmeichel dives low to his left and saves brilliantly from Modric’s spot-kick. What a moment! What a save. We’re still level.
SAVED (as advertised)#RTEsoccer #worldcup https://t.co/5rbws7Qujj pic.twitter.com/lrh3q2Es76
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) July 1, 2018
There will be just one minute of stoppage time to come at the end of the second period of extra-time.
FULL-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME: CROATIA 1-1 DENMARK
We’re heading to penalties…
Clearly this game was destined to store all it's drama in the first and last five minutes...
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
For the second time tonight, a game will be decided from 12 yards 😓#CRODEN pic.twitter.com/FMfhIiamZF
Penalties: Croatia 0-0 Denmark
MISS! Eriksen misses for Denmark.
Penalties: Croatia 0-0 Denmark
MISS! Badelj misses for Croatia.
Penalties: Croatia 0-1 Denmark
GOAL! Kjaer scores for Denmark.
Penalties: Croatia 1-1 Denmark
GOAL! Kramaric scores for Croatia.
Penalties: Croatia 1-2 Denmark
GOAL! Krohn-Dehli scores for Denmark.
Penalties: Croatia 2-2 Denmark
GOAL! Modric scores for Croatia.
Penalties: Croatia 2-2 Denmark
MISS! Schoene misses for Denmark.
Penalties: Croatia 2-2 Denmark
MISS! Pivaric misses for Croatia.
Penalties: Croatia 2-2 Denmark
MISS! Joergensen misses for Denmark.
Penalties: Croatia 3-2 Denmark
GOAL! Rakitic scores and Croatia are through!
FULL-TIME: CROATIA BEAT DENMARK ON PENALTIES
#CRO 3#DEN 2
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
Ivan Rakitic sends Croatia into the quarter-finals!!!#CRODEN
Incredible. Simply incredible.
— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
Not sure we'll see a shoot-out like that again for a while! Five saves, but #CRO take it.#CRODEN pic.twitter.com/BDF10UDA0T
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