Dynamite News FIFA WC: Subasic's heroics take Croatia to quarters
Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic was the showstopper for Croatia as he helped his team squeeze past Denmark in the penalty shootout in their high-voltage round of 16 clash at the ongoing 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup here on Sunday (local time).
Nizhny Novgorod: Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic was the showstopper for Croatia as he helped his team squeeze past Denmark in the penalty shootout in their high-voltage round of 16 clash at the ongoing 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup here on Sunday (local time).
Prior to the penalty round, both Croatia and Denmark were locked at 1-1 after neither of them found the net after 90 minutes and in the extra time. At the beginning of the match, defender Mathias Jorgensen gave Denmark an early lead in the first minute, when midfielder Thomas Delaney clipped the ball to the former inside the penalty box, thereby completing the goal by clipping it past Subasic.
However, three minutes later, Croatia equalised when striker Mario Mandzukic took advantage of a botched clearance, wherein the ball bounced past Danish defender Andreas Christensen's head, giving Mandzukic the perfect time to guide the ball past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
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Thereafter, Croatia and Denmark fought frantically to give their respective teams a dominating position.
In the 27th minute, Subasic denied Denmark's second goal when forward Martin Braithwaite played a shot from the right side of the penalty box, hitting straight to the Croatian goalkeeper, who just dabbled the ball. Two minutes later, midfielder Ivan Rakitic attempted a long-range shot but was thwarted by Schmeichel.
By half-time, both Croatia and Denmark were deadlocked at 1-1. The two countries lobbied hard to score but were unable to break past the defence displayed by their respective teams.
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Croatia will now lock horns with Russia, who earlier shocked 2010 champions Spain in penalties, in the quarter-finals at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on July 7. (ANI)