Croatia after the penalty victory over Russia in the semi-final

Greetings from the Croats meeting England in the World Cup semi-finals next Wednesday (Image: KEYSTONE / EPA / FRIEDEMANN BIRD)

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Again, Russia saved extra time and later in the penalty shootout, but this time the Russians fired from eleven yards once too much. Because Fedor Smolow failed and Mario Fernandes miserably lost, finished for the home team, the World Cup in their own country. In Croatia, with the exception of Mateo Kovacic, all the shooters were nervous, as was Denmark's Ivan Rakitic. This means that the 1998 vice-world champion will face the second runner-up with England next Wednesday at 20h at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow

Russia and Croatia have offered a feast for the eyes as the Brazil and Belgium the day before. Quarter-finals of the World Cup in Sochi not. It was a struggle to bend and break. He finished after 90 minutes in the fact that both teams had to replay as late as in the second round against Spain (Russia) and Denmark (Croatia) at the score of 1: 1. Because both teams Fighting in overtime, Domagoj Vida's Croatia in the 101st and Mario Fernandes' Russia in the 115th minute had to be decided last Sunday for a penalty shot on the progress.

To dispose of Russia. Several Croatian players, including goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, could literally barely walk. And yet put the "Vatreni" in the first half of the extension, the so-called crucial pinprick, unsurprisingly after a standard situation. Back-center defender Domagoj Vida took a lucky lead after a corner in the 100th minute to take the score to 2-1.

Russian coach Stanislaw Chertschessov was terribly angry that his team was not adequately supported by the deficit. The Coach's gesture, with open palms and raised arms, was unmistakable: scream and help us! The noise level rose exponentially after the first international goal of Fernandes, Brazilian, third in the match. Because Russia knew at that time, that five minutes would be enough to flee again in the penalty shootout.

Tscheryschews fourth goal of the World Cup

The public was already a bit outdated. be offered half an hour. The magnificent Schlenzer of the four-time World Cup scorer, Denis Tscheryschew, after a double pass with Artem Dzjuba at the Croatian lattice, led to 1-0 and Russia began to dream of the continuation of his summer tale . Eight minutes later, the game resumed from scratch: Because this time the Russians had very little resistance to the race of Mario Mandzukic, Andrej Kramaric used the ball in the head

Telegram:

Russia – Croatia 2: 2 (1: 1, 1: 1) nV; Croatia 4: 3 winner in penalties

Sochi. – 44 28 287 spectators. – SR Ricci (BRA). – Goals: 31. Tscheryschew 1: 0. 39. Kramaric 1: 1. 101. Vida 1: 2. 115. Fernandes 2: 2. – Penalty Shot: Smolow (Inmate), Brozovic 0: 1; Dzagojew 1: 1, Kovacic (detained); Fernandes (next), Modric 1: 2; Ignashevich 2: 2, Vida 2: 3; Kuzayev 3: 3, Rakitic 3: 4.

Russia: Akinfeev; Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudryazov; Samedov (54th Jeroshin), Sobnin, Kuzyayev, Tscheryschew (67th Smolow); Dzjuba (79. Gasinski), Golovin (102. Dzagojew).

Croatia: Subasic; Vrsaljko (97th Corluka), Lovren, Vida, Strinic (74th Pivaric); Rakitic, Modric; Rebic, Kramaric (88th Kovacic), Perisic (63rd Brozovic); Mandzukic.

Comments: Russia without Shirkov (injured), Croatia without Nikola Kalinic (sent home). 60th post from Perisic. Warnings: 35. Lovren (fault). 38. Strinic (fault). 101. Vida (unsportsmanlike). 109. Gasinski (fault). 114. Pivaric (Hands).