Croatia 1- Denmark I
Tie Breaker: Croatia 4: Denmark 3
In a keenly contested match where both sides scored within 4 minutes of the kick off 116 minutes including 15+15+30 minutes after that remained goal less.
In the second tie breakers witnessed on the same night Croatian Goal Keeper won the match for the team. Croatia won 3-3 breaking the hearts of the Danes.
Hardly the viewers could settle down Denmark scored within 42 seconds through the very first move 1-0. Croats did not sit back and roared into actions right then and there. In their counter attack they equalized with their first moves in 1minute and 42 seconds. The match witnessed lively pace of attacks and counter attacks. Arguably the most contested match seen so far. Both teams got number of chances to go ahead but neither could avail in full time.
Croatia got a penalty in the second half of extended period which Danish Goal keeper saved. Match drifted to penalty kick tie breakers. Both goal keepers saved two each. In sudden death Croatia scored and Croatian Goal keeper Suvacic saved again. Croatia won 4-3 to set a date with Russia which earlier on the night knocked out Spain in similar manner.
Croatia created flash in the tournament beating one of the tournament favorites Argentina 3-0 in the Group D first round. Denmark came to the group of 16 as the second best team of Group C behind France. The two teams of Europe playing almost similar brand of football presented breath taking fascinating contest.
Goals were scored early goals within the first 4 minutes. But despite brilliant moves engineered and developed with lightening pace no more goals were scored in the remaining time of full 90 minutes and 30 minutes of the added time.
Mathias Jergenson put Denmark ahead within 42 minutes of the kick off making it 1-0 .Mario Manduke struck back within 1 minute and 42 seconds equalizing 1-1. From then on it was any body’s game. Waves of attacks and counter attacks kept the admirers of both the team guessing. It was another match when neither side deserved to loose.
The match followed the same pattern in added time. But in the second added time period Croatia was rightly awarded the penalty from which their start Modarcich failed to score. After 120 minutes of the lively contest the match remained 1-1.
In tie breaker the first two attempts were saved by goal keepers of either side. Both scored from the next two. Croatian keeper saved the fourth one and Danish keeper the 5th. It was 3-3 again after first set of five. In sudden death Croatia scored but Suvacic of Croatia saved again. Croatia won 4-3 and advanced to quarterfinal.
This is only the second match in the history of the world cup when two teams scored one goal each within the first 4 minutes. The other was Argentina Nigeria match in 2014. Croatia after 1998 moved into quarterfinal.
In this world cup record numbers of penalties are already awarded. Many scored and many saved. Messi, Ronaldo and Moderich failed to score from penalty. We must give due credit to the goal keepers as well.
Now the two quarterfinals line ups are set after four matches in two days.
Russia Vs Croatia
France Vs Uruguay
Today and tomorrow two more battle fronts will be drawn.
Germany, Argentina, Spain and Portugal have all gone. France and Uruguay survived. But one will have to leave soon. . Brazil and England among other pre tournament favorites are still alive. Hope this world cup does not witness for the first time when none of the earlier world cup winners last till the final.
Brazil plays Mexico and Belgium plays Japan. Many hope for a Brazil Belgium epic quarter final. But who knows it will not be opposite to what dreamt in this wide open tournament. This is what is expected from world cup events. Heroes of the past would fade away and new heroes would emerge.
We all should be ready for welcoming new champions if it goes that way though HEXA mission is still alive at least till today's match.
BDST: 1157 HRS, JUL 2, 2018
SI
