- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Croatia have topped Group D with three wins, having fought off a valiant Iceland to win the last group match 2-1.
Iceland leave with their heads held high, but in a similar fashion to Australia, the inability to score has ultimately been their downfall.
Croatia completely owned the first half, holding so much possession that at times Iceland looked like training ground cones. Iceland appeared determined to maintain their strategy of controlled play from a positional perspective, and awaiting their chance to strike.
A lacklustre first half saw Iceland finish the stronger, with the most meaningful chances of the game leading up to half time, as Iceland used the last five minutes to take strong and direct shots on goal forcing crucial and meaningful saves from Croatian keeper Lovre Kalinic, who for the majority of the half had had little to do.
It was Croatia who opened the scoring in the second half, though, as Ivan Badelj came charging into the Iceland goal area and finished with a rampaging right foot strike to hit the back of the net. Iceland’s tournament hopes appeared lost.
There would be further twists in the tale as Iceland came back into the match, and were awarded a penalty, without VAR intervention, for what was a clear handball by Croatia. The 76th-minute penalty allowed Gylfi Sigurdsson the opportunity to convert from the spot, not only making up for his Nigeria miss but keeping Iceland in this World Cup.
Sigurdsson buried the ball, the crowd coming back alive, and Iceland had 15 minutes to save their World Cup, as Argentina and Nigeria were battling it out in St Petersburg.
When Argentina took the lead, Iceland needed just one goal to go through to the knockout stage.
Alas for the Icelanders, it was not to be, and while they pressed for the match winner, it was a 90th-minute strike to Ivan Perisic sealing Iceland’s fate, and keeping Croatia on top, the Milan striker striking true and with absolute world-class composure.
A fascinating end to this group that, to be sure, was never full of excitement at every turn, but was an enjoyable match nonetheless. Croatia can now look to the knockout stage and a matchup with Denmark, and while Iceland’s participation is finished, their presence in this World Cup will not be easily forgotten.
Hardly a classic, but nor was it forgettable, a match that was somewhere in between.
Iceland: 1
Croatia: 2
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.