Russia's World Cup dream ends with a shootout loss to Croatia

SOCHI – The Russian dream of the Cup World Cup finishes in the semi-finals lost 4-3 on penalties to Croatia on Saturday after another gallant performance in front of fanatical fans, which belies their new ranking.

After eliminating Spain in shooting on the last lap, Russia, ranked 70th in the FIFA rankings, Croatia, a shadow of the team that crossed his group with the most points, has again challenged the chances of taking Croatia ranked 20th with a 2-2 draw after extra time but on that occasion his marksmanship dropped them

The penalty shoot-out allowed Ivan Rakitic's 39, face England in the semifinal on Wednesday in Moscow

As usual, Russia beat in front of a raucous crowd while Mario Fernandes was leading a spectacular equalizer. At five minutes of extra time, the Brazilian-born player becomes the villain as he misses his third shootout kick.

Before that, Denis Cheryshev had mowed down Russia with a long-range lightning strike in the 31st minute. Andrej Kramaric equalized for Croatia six minutes before half-time

Crotia pbaded with a warm header from substitute Domagoj Vida in the 101st minute, the first goal scored in overtime

Stanislav Cherchesov, coach of Russia. , whose side had no win in seven games before the final, which prompted many to fear an embarrbading outing in the group stage, was typically bellicose.

"I am very happy with the way the team has played the entire World Cup, its character and has worked to the fullest," he said. "But you always start questions with negative things."

"This World Cup was organized in the best possible way, what happened happened, we were a very good host from the point of view of football and sport, the organization and the

Croatia, which reached its first semifinal since 1998, dominated possession over the 120 minutes. pbaded and was vulnerable to Russia's aerial game.

"We should have finished the work before the penalties, but maybe it's written in the stars that we have to go through the extra drama," says Luka Modric. an animated opening, the intensity of the game fell, with senior tennis sessions in the midfield, but this was the more rustic approach of Russia who paid dividends first by going from before, in an amazing style

. ball near the center line, exchanged pbades with Artem Dzyuba and wrapped a superb 25-meter shot past the transfixed Subasic.

Slack defending allowed Croatia to level eight minutes later. Striker Mario Mandzukic ran unhindered into the penalty area and brought a low ball into the center, where Kramaric was eyeing.

Croatia was about to take the advantage at the break. and Ivan Perisic's shot hit inside the post and bounced safely through the goal.

Croatia finally succeeded when Vida encountered an angle with a weak upside down that found its way through two legs and rolled in

To their eternal credit, Russia still did not surrendered and retaliated when Alan Dzagoev kicked a free-kick in the box and Fernandes opened the scoring for a shootout

Fyodor Smolov saw Russia's penalty saved by Danijel Subasic and, although goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev kept a shot at Mateo Kovacic's foot, the fate of the hosts was sealed when Fernandes was missing.

"I do not cry often, but now I have good reasons e," said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic. "Of course, there is still some power for the English – we will not stop, we will try to play our best game."

"We have two games to play, we are very motivated, we will give everything."