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NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) – Croatia made heavy weather of beating Denmark in their worst performance of the tournament, but will seek to rediscover their fluency in a weekend showdown against Russia for a place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Victory over The hosts in Sochi on Saturday would be in Croatia, Luka Modric, in the Middle Ages.
Yet how they struggled to get their dogged in Nizhny Novgorod.
In an extraordinary opening, both teams scored comical goals in the first four minutes. But instead of that setting the stage for a thriller, the rest of normal and extra-time was mostly poor quality.
On both sides, passes were mistimed, crosses over-hit, and shots scuffed.
Modric, so devastating in the group stage, hung oddly deep and looked lethargic – until just before the end when he showed up with a perfect long pass that drew in the area from Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel.
The 32-year-old, now one of the biggest names in the history of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, hit a shot that Schmeichel saved, and punched the air in anger minutes later the whistle went for a dreaded penalty shootout.
Nevertheless, Modric bravely returned to take – and convert – a spot kick, while goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saved three from Denmark. Croatia's 3-2 shootout win saw fireworks, flares and roars from crowds of fans back home in Zagreb.
"Croatia, coach Zlatko Dalic told reporters, after having had fun with the fans.
Russia, who also won a penalty shootout against Spain on Sunday after the end of the day with an energy-sapping rearguard performance, will have taken care of the same defensive qualities.
They, too, would like to shackle the likes of Modric and fellow midfielder Ivan Rakitic, and then hit on the counter as they have done with such surprising success at the tournament.
Dalic said the euphoria of reaching the quarter-final was over, he would have his team to avoid arrogance and prepare as if they were playing "the best team in the World Cup".
But in truth he will know Russia is an inferior side, and his team have a fantastic chance of emulating the famous 'Class of 1998' who came third in France.
Editing by Amlan Chakraborty
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