Russia vs Croatia World Cup 2018 live updates

Sports

Cramp Guardian? [19659026] This could be a problem for Croatia. Just before the stoppage, Danijel Subasic seemed to have a hamstring cramp and Croatia had no substitute. Subasic played after a coach visit, but this could be bad news as this match seems to be prolonged, and may be a penalty shot.

Russia free kick

The Russians have a free kick away from the left corner of the box, but Golovin's header is cleared. (19659029) Russia takes the lead

Croatia holds the ball in 66% of the time and actually does not much, but at least Russia enjoys their touches. Aleksandr Yerokhin has shot a header above the bar during the last Russian attack, but it is good for the host country to be aggressive.

Close call

Croatia nearly scored their second goal when Ivan Perisic Belle shot in the bottom of the post before jumping on the goal-face without crossing the line. What luck for Russia

***

Updates of the first half

Halftime: Russia 1, Croatia 1

The score reflects the balance of this match, with the prolific Cheryshev and Croatia Kramaric providing the differences-manufacturers up here. In fact, these two provided the only shots that we saw until this match. We could be in a long time in Sochi.

Goal, Croatia!

Game on. Croatia equalizes eight minutes later when they catch up with the Russian defense and Andrej Kramaric sends a head to the ground in goal.

Goal, Russia!

Well, it comes from nowhere. After a slow start, Russia jumped when Denis Cheryshev scored his fourth World Cup goal after a tough race. Strong shot puts Russia in the lead

Ovechkin hits the fan fest

As if Russian fans needed more and more Excitement, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin brought the Stanley Cup to the fan fesitval before the match. Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post was on the scene (eventful)

Starts of departure

A change of side: Russia replaced Yuri Zhirkov by Denis Cheryshev, and Croatia replaced Andrej Kramaric by Marcelo Brozovic

Bye bye, Sochi

Fisht Olympic Stadium has brought some of the most memorable matches of this World Cup. Remember the 3-3 draw between Portugal and Spain? Or Portugal-Uruguay, or the break-up of Germany against Sweden? Hope that something as exciting this afternoon, the last game in Sochi this World Cup.

First Thoughts

Russia and Croatia close their doors at the Olympic Stadium in Fisht in a match that could test the patience of the spectators. The knockout stages of the two teams went in the back row, with Russia pulling from behind, beating Spain on penalties and Croatia pbading Denmark in the same way. The goals will certainly be in the foreground as both teams took and conceded less shots than the other six quarter-finals.

Croatia has reasons to be aggressive. His defense is solid, he has scored eight goals and has cashed only two – and the players are eager to get out of the shadows of their predecessors on the 1998 national team, the only team to have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup. This year's team has just as much talent, including a powerful midfielder who will be responsible for breaking Russia's defense. Meanwhile, Russia has only the slightest pressure to satisfy its enraged fans as host nation. Russians tend to fall back against more talented teams, which could be an appropriate strategy against Croatia's talented defenders

---

You want smart badysis, opinions, viewing guides and more of the Cup of the world? Sign up for our one month newsletter . Every match day until the final of July 15th.

---

When: Saturday, 2:00 pm

How to watch TV live: Fox

How to watch online: Fox Sports, Fox Soccer Match Pbad App and FoxSportsGo.com

How to watch Spanish: Telemundo

How to watch in Canada: Bell Media TSN and CTV Networks, the TSN GO App and TSN.ca/live.

Qu& Is the following: The winner will face Sweden – Winner of England in the semifinal on Wednesday in St. Petersburg

[Complete quarterfinal and semifinal bracket]

Team Profiles

Russia

• Results Previous: Saudi Arabia defeated, 5-0. Egypt defeated, 3-1. Lost in Uruguay, 3-0. Defeated Spain in the round of 16 shooting from a distance, 4-3, after drawing 1-1
• Best World Cup performance: fourth place, 1966.
• Notable: First quarter match Russia's final round since 1970. [19659063] FIFA World Rank: 70. Elo World Rank: 41.

Croatia

• Past Results: Defeat Nigeria, 2-0. Argentina beaten, 3-0. Iceland defeated, 2-1. Defeated Denmark in the round of 16 in a penalty shoot-out, 3-2, after a 1-1 draw
• Best result in the World Cup: semifinal, 1998.
• Notable: Croatia finished best first
• FIFA world rankings: 20. Elo world ranking: 6.

Players to watch

Croatian midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic may be the key to pbading the stubborn defense of Russia. The La Liga stars dominate the Croatian midfielder and excel both in possession and distribution of the ball (Rakitic is particularly good for the opening of the slopes), but neither of them has yet registered a pbad for this World Cup. Croatia is structured this way – Modric and Rakitic play in the center, and the team operates from the wings – but if one or the other midfielder can break through to score or score a purpose, Russia will be in trouble.

Russia, if the goals are premium then Artyom Dzyuba and Denis Cheryshev are the players to watch. Dzyuba, an attacker, and Cheryshev, a midfielder, have three goals each up here this tournament

Read more about the World Cup:

Brazil vs Belgium 2018 World Cup Quarter: The Belgium stuns Brazil, 2-1 [19659076] France takes full control by beating Uruguay – and alludes to more to come in World Cup

The real losers of the World Cup: The people Russian

England knows how to adjust her World Cup expectations. But victory was not part of the plan.

The legacy of the World Cup in Japan includes an unblemished cloakroom and a thank you note