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Croatia takes Russia out of its own party. The host of the World Cup who did not know what it was to break through a group stage since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, dreamed big but was eliminated in the quarterfinals in penalty kicks (4-3)
"I am very proud of the way the team played throughout the tournament, in the sport there is only 39, a Cup and now we have no chance to win it, but we put the country back and it makes us happy "
The Croatians will return to the semi-finals they dreamed of after surviving hell designed by the hosts and, again, on penalties before leaving Russian purgatory after a 1-1 draw in regulation time and 2-2 in overtime.
The revival of Russian football seemed great with a painting that at 31 minutes captured the distance and left-back late Denis Cheryshev.
The subtle contact with a thread went to the goal of Danijel Subas After having passed without difficulty the hot pressure of Domagoj Vida and his partner at the back, Dejan Lovren
Cheryshev finished to leave the Sochi stadium after vain and disappointing efforts, because the value of his work was only eight years old. In the 39th minute, Mario Mandzukic, in an unusual appearance for his role, quickly moved into the left wing and when he walked on the ground, he released a center for the head of Andrej Kramaric in front of which he could not do anything. Igor Akinfeev
It was a bucket of cold water for the hostess because after the painting of the Russian number 6 there was little in the box to try a new offensive.
Croatia opted to regulate its forces and manage the ball with a good pace.
Captain Luka Modric appeared in the second half to take his team to the goal of Akinfeev. At one of these visits, Ivan Perisic, by small mark, had not been to the vertical.
"We did not play well in the first half, we did not control the game the way we wanted it."
Stanislav Chercherov's goal was probably to resolve the game in regulation but gave signs of not having much to offer.
The extension began with the drama for Croatia, which with three changes consumed was then confronted with the dilemma of a muscular injury. on the right side of Athletic Madrid, Sime Vrsaljko, and Mandzukic's exhaustion symptoms.
Zlatko Dalic chose to consume the fourth change with a relay to Vrsaljko and lower the revolutions to give respite to his men.
The balance was intended for Croatia with the purpose of life and, when everything seemed consumed, five minutes later, Fernandes appeared.
But as Cheryshev did , the excitement It lasted little in Brazil n, he failed to execute his shot and from there Russians no longer recovered.
In the sanctions that Ivan Rakitic settled, Smolov tried to throw first to Panenka and Subasic, despite having thrown to the side, gave him time to raise his hand and take the ball.
Croatia also scored Brozovic, Modric with great suffering, because Akinfeev almost stopped the field, and Vida before yielding Rakitique. For Russia, Alan Dzagoev, Ignashevich and Kuziaev did it
SOCHI / Agencies
"It would be a shame not to reach the final": Zlatko Dalic
Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic said he was very pleased with the qualification of his team to the semi-finals of the Cup of the Russian World, but admitted it's a pity not to reach the final.
Dalic was ambitious and said that they would fight to be in the finals . "We do not want to stop here. We want to play two more games and we are very motivated. It would be a shame not to reach the Moscow final
"We must congratulate the guys for the fight, for the effort and for all that they did to bring Croatia to the semi-finals. We must be proud, here and in Croatia, because it was spectacular.We must also congratulate Russia for its fight.It was not a good match, but it was intense, a battle for the half -final, we are very lucky, "he said.
Dalic explained why he burst into tears after getting the rankings. "I was very focused on the match, but when Rakitic scored the penalty, all the emotions came out, we are very happy, but we also made a lot of happy people in Croatia. do not usually cry, but this time there was a good cause; Croatia is in the semifinal.It is a great success and a good result. "
The coach admitted that in the first half of his team was overtaken by Russia. "They played aggressively, they fought a lot and they did not let us play the way we wanted to, and then we improved in the second half and won, which was an intense game, in front of 50 thousand people cheering. "
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