World Cup 2018: Iceland out after defeat to group winners Croatia
Media playback is not supported on this device
Perisic puts Croatia back ahead
Iceland failed in their attempt to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time as Croatia secured a late win to top Group D on maximum points.
The Nordic nation knew they had to win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16 and their colourful support looked dejected in Rostov-on-Don where their side missed key chances late in the first half.
Alfred Finnbogason and Birkir Bjarnason both went close before the interval but Milan Badelj stylishly slammed home for Croatia after the break.
That forced Iceland to chase the game and they hit the bar through Sverrir Ingason before Gylfi Sigurdsson won and converted a penalty to level when Dejan Lovren handballed.
In the dying minutes, with Argentina leading Nigeria 2-1 some 1,100 miles away in St Petersburg, Iceland knew a win would see them jump ahead of the South American nation in second place.
- How the players rated in Iceland v Croatia
But their attacks became less frequent as Croatia took more control and Ivan Perisic - one of only two players to retain his place from the win over Argentina - fired across the keeper to win it for Croatia in injury time.
His side now face Denmark in the last 16 on Sunday, while Argentina will play France on Saturday.
Spirited Iceland's missed chance
Croatia win Group D and have conceded just one goal in their three wins so far
With a population of around 300,000, Iceland's achievement in becoming the smallest nation to reach the World Cup understandably saw their fans wear faces of pride and disappointment on the final whistle.
They arrived in southern Russia knowing even a win may not be enough if Nigeria had beaten Argentina, but the manner in which they missed chances at key moments - against a side sporting nine changes from their last game - will perhaps feel like an opportunity wasted.
Heimir Hallgrimsson's side were the lowest scorers of the European sides who qualified automatically for the tournament and a lack of end product undoubtedly proved key in their exit.
They had grown into the opening 45 minutes as a Croatian side showing little intent ended the period on the back foot despite having 65% possession.
Alfred Finnbogason side footed wide from 18 yards late in the opening 45 minutes
Finnbogason side footed fractionally wide into the side netting from 18 yards, Bjarnason could only drive against the legs of keeper Lovre Kalinic and Aron Gunnarsson was denied by a one-handed save on the stroke of half-time.
Badelj made them pay as, moments after rattling the bar from 30 yards, he powered a shot into the ground which flew into the net.
The instant fight shown epitomised the qualities which have endeared Iceland to so many with Ingason heading to force a save and then planting another header onto the bar from the resulting corner.
Sigurdsson lifted home a penalty which Lovren conceded with his first touch on the pitch but Iceland - perhaps finally feeling the effects of long spells out of possession, succumbed to Perisic's powerful left-foot strike.
Defeat added pain to their exit but, as was the case in Euro 2016, they have remained competitive on a grand stage.
Croatia's fresh faces maintain momentum
Milan Badelj (left) drove the ball into the floor powerfully and it fizzed into the net for Croatia's opener
In contrast to Iceland's frustration, Croatia appear a side rejuvenated under Zlatko Dalic, who only took charge with one World Cup qualification match remaining.
His side were beaten to top spot in qualifying by Iceland but have not yet lost a competitive game under his charge and this win - with a much-changed line-up - perhaps points to a confidence running through the squad.
Only Perisic and Luka Modric remained from the 3-0 win over Argentina but the likes of Fiorentina midfielder Badelj - who added an assist for the winner to his own strike - showcased the depth the eastern European country boast.
Real Madrid's Mateo Kovacic came into the side and in 82 minutes, completed 78 of his 79 passes in a composed display, while former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka completed a game-high nine clearances.
This was far from an intense or overly impressive display by the group winners but they spent long spells keeping possession without ever looking like over-exerting themselves. Ultimately, the result only adds to their momentum.
They have now won three World Cup matches in a row for the first time and in doing so, win a group at the tournament for the first time too.
They look set to arrive in Nizhny Novgorod for Sunday's meeting with Denmark fairly fresh and certainly dangerous.
More to follow.
-
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Iceland
1Halldórsson
2SaevarssonBooked at 84mins
5Ingason
6R SigurdssonSubstituted forSigurdarsonat 71'minutes
18Magnússon
20HallfredssonBooked at 59mins
17Gunnarsson
7Berg Gudmundsson
10G Sigurdsson
8BjarnasonSubstituted forTraustasonat 90'minutes
11FinnbogasonBooked at 64minsSubstituted forGudmundssonat 85'minutes
Substitutes
3Fridjónsson
4Gudmundsson
9Sigurdarson
12Schram
13Rúnarsson
14Árnason
15Eyjólfsson
16OI Skúlason
19Gíslason
21Traustason
22Bödvarsson
23AF Skúlason
Croatia
12L Kalinic
13JedvajBooked at 83mins
5Corluka
15Caleta-Car
22Pivaric
10ModricSubstituted forBradaricat 65'minutes
19Badelj
8KovacicSubstituted forRakiticat 82'minutes
20PjacaBooked at 14minsSubstituted forLovrenat 69'minutes
4Perisic
9Kramaric
Substitutes
1Livakovic
2Vrsaljko
3Strinic
6Lovren
7Rakitic
11Brozovic
14Bradaric
17Mandzukic
18Rebic
21Vida
23Subasic
Referee:
Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Attendance:
43,472
Match Stats
Home TeamIcelandAway TeamCroatia
Possession
Home39%
Away61%
Shots
Home16
Away14
Shots on Target
Home6
Away2
Corners
Home10
Away5
Fouls
Home10
Away11
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Iceland 1, Croatia 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Iceland 1, Croatia 2.
Posted at 90'+5'
Corner, Iceland. Conceded by Filip Bradaric.
Posted at 90'+4'
Corner, Iceland. Conceded by Dejan Lovren.
Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt missed. Aron Gunnarsson (Iceland) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 90'+4'
Corner, Iceland. Conceded by Dejan Lovren.
Posted at 90'+2'
Corner, Iceland. Conceded by Vedran Corluka.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Josip Pivaric (Croatia).
Posted at 90'+2'
Albert Gudmundsson (Iceland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ivan Perisic.
Goal!Posted at 90'
Goal! Iceland 1, Croatia 2. Ivan Perisic (Croatia) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Milan Badelj.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'
Substitution, Iceland. Arnór Ingvi Traustason replaces Birkir Bjarnason.
Posted at 90'
Milan Badelj (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Björn Sigurdarson (Iceland).
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Andrej Kramaric (Croatia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Milan Badelj.
Posted at 88'
Attempt missed. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Posted at 87'
Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Iceland).
SubstitutionPosted at 85'
Substitution, Iceland. Albert Gudmundsson replaces Alfred Finnbogason.
Posted at 85'
Attempt missed. Ivan Perisic (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
BookingPosted at 84'
Birkir Már Saevarsson (Iceland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 84'
Ivan Perisic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Birkir Már Saevarsson (Iceland).
BookingPosted at 83'
Tin Jedvaj (Croatia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Tin Jedvaj (Croatia).
Posted at 83'
Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Dejan Lovren (Croatia) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic with a cross following a corner.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Croatia. Ivan Rakitic replaces Mateo Kovacic.
Posted at 81'
Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Birkir Már Saevarsson.
Posted at 77'
Attempt saved. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Goal!Posted at 76'
Goal! Iceland 1, Croatia 1. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Posted at 75'
Penalty conceded by Dejan Lovren (Croatia) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
Posted at 74'
Offside, Croatia. Josip Pivaric tries a through ball, but Andrej Kramaric is caught offside.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Josip Pivaric (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Andrej Kramaric.
Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. Birkir Bjarnason (Iceland) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alfred Finnbogason.
Posted at 72'
Offside, Iceland. Hördur Björgvin Magnússon tries a through ball, but Alfred Finnbogason is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 71'
Substitution, Iceland. Björn Sigurdarson replaces Ragnar Sigurdsson.
Posted at 70'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Croatia. Dejan Lovren replaces Marko Pjaca because of an injury.
Posted at 69'
Delay in match Marko Pjaca (Croatia) because of an injury.
Show more updates
goal
Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
Comments
This article has 0 comment(s) , give your comment