Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties, advance to quarter-finals of 2018 World Cup | Bleacher's report



[ad_1]

<img clbad = "lazy lazyImage lazy" itemprop = "contentUrl" src = "https://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/750/496/hi-res-601b17df1f8f2d3b936d1789440aea35_crop_north.jpg? h = 53 & w = 80 & q = 70 & crop_x = center & crop_y = top "width =" 800 "height =" 533 "alt =" Croatian Luka Modric, on the left, and Denmark's Thomas Delaney challenge the ball in the Croatia-Denmark match at the 2018 World Cup at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Sunday, July 1 Efrem Lukatsky / Associated Press

Croatia has reserved its ticket for the next round of the FIFA World Cup ™ 2018 Sunday, beating Denmark on penalties in a clash in the round of 16.

The third of 1998 clinched their first win in a knockout tournament in a major tournament since that historic race and will meet Russia in the next round.

Mathias Jorgensen and Mario Mandzukic put end to match Let's start with two goals first, but things have quickly regressed. Luka Modric missed a penalty in added time but returned to score his second try in the shootout.

Danijel Subasic and Kasper Schmeichel both showed their talent by saving the penalties of Christian Eriksen, Milan Badelj, Lbade Schone and Josip Pivaric and Nicolai Jorgensen

Here are the main points to remember from the match.

Modric Can not let his bad temper put shame on his confidence

Star of Real Madrid Modric He had probably been the tournament's best player in the group stages, but he ran into a phenomenal Thomas Delaney on Sunday and could not leave his mark on the game.

He sent a handful of pbades – including the one that led to the late penalty – but was visibly nervous in overtime, and things got worse after his penalty was missed. By the time he stepped back into the shooting, the 32-year-old man was almost shaking, and he had another little effort that was nearly saved once again.

None of this will be of importance to the Croats, who finally caught the knockout victory they so desperately wanted, but it is crucial Modric does not do not let this bad exit linger or shake his confidence. He is the most important man in Croatia midfield, and they will need him at his best to unlock the solid defense of Russia.

Heroic Schmeichel defeated by the bad penalties of teammates

When FIFA announces his tournament team and the prize for best goalkeeper, Schmeichel [19659008] should at least get an honorable mention, even if his team did not win a knockout match.

He was phenomenal against Peru, a match that the Danes could easily have lost, and continued his stellar play in the group stages. Against Croatia, he did not have to make several key saves, but by saving three penalties in total, he returned to the charge.

The other big stars of Denmark – notably Christian Eriksen and Pione Sisto – were far from better in Russia, and they let their stars stop. Sunday, the first set the tone in the shootout by missing their first try, and the latter did not even have the chance to take a penalty after being removed from play.

The versatility of Croatia: a lesson for the other competitors

Although the emphasis has been on the sublime choice of midfielder Croatia, the team is the only one. one of the few their tactical versatility.

Not everything should pbad Modric and Ivan Rakitic-fast wingers Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic are perfectly capable of creating danger on their own, and thanks to the physicality of the team, they can also score ugly goals, as evidenced by the Mandzukic strike.

Denmark did a great job Sunday. adapted team and found other ways to deal with threats and create danger. That did not lead to more goals, but at least they came close – something that Spain has never done after Russia's ERA earlier during the day.

The Roja – and the defending German champions – were defeated because they never found a plan B, and c & rsquo; Is a problem that Croatia does not seem to have. This is a huge weapon that goes from the front, and this should lead to a better demonstration against the hosts.

And then?

The knockout stages continue Monday as Brazil face Mexico and Belgium against Japan.

[ad_2]
Source link