Russia 2-2 (3-4 on pens) Croatia
It’s amazing what football can do.
No more so than changing the mood of a country.
Little over three weeks ago, Russia were one of the least-fancied hosts in World Cup history.
A side which had not won since October and was barely expected to get out of its World Cup 2018 group, let alone progress to the quarter-finals.
Indeed, after beginning this tournament without a win in seven friendlies, there was a strong feeling among SBOBET experts that – despite a fairly kind draw – Russia could become only the second host nation to bow out in the group stage.
How wrong the World Cup 2018 odds were!
Highlights of the game
That change of mood was clear in a raucous Fisht Olympic Stadium.
Here was Russia bidding to reach the semi-finals for only the second time in their history.
Watched by the Russian Prime Minister and Croatian president, if Stanislav Cherchesov and his players doubted they had the backing of a nation, the national anthem made the support emphatically clear.
That was reflected by an assured and confident Russian start in an open match.
While chances were few and far between, the atmosphere was spine-tingling, complete with an ersatz Icelandic thunderclap which so illuminated Euro 2016.
It became electric after 31 minutes when Denis Cheryshev produced one of the moments of the tournament.
A one-two with Artem Dzyuba who laid the ball back into his path saw Cheryshev brilliantly curl the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net from 25 yards.
The scenes in Sochi were incredible from a player arguably creating his own goal of the tournament contest.
Then out of nothing, within eight minutes, Croatia were level after Russian defending akin to their performances prior to the tournament.
Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic was given the freedom of the left-hand side and from his pull-back, and with defenders slow to react, Andrej Kramaric was unmarked and steered a header into the bottom-right hand corner.
It rocked Russia, and Croatia slowly took control at the end of the half and into the second period.
On the hour, it looked certain they would take the lead.
In a goalmouth scramble, Ivan Perisic struck the ball against the left-hand post and it bounced to safety when it seemed sure to cross the line.
As Croatia dominated possession, Russia fans produced a cacophony of piercing whistles which changed to cheers when their favourites tried to counter-attack.
Cherchesov clearly had his players, inferior individually to Croatia, drilled well as they tried to disrupt their opponents, and he implored the crowd to get behind the team.
In the 101st minute, a corner was delivered into the danger zone and the unlikely figure of Domagoj Vida headed the ball past a number of defenders into the corner with Igor Akinfeev seemingly unsighted.
Vida was cautioned for his topless celebration, but he didn’t seem to care.
Croatia had broken Russian resistance and were heading to their first semi-final for 20 years.
But there was to be one more twist in open play.
There were five minutes were left on the clock when Alan Dzagoev delivered another superb dead ball and Mario Fernandes expertly guided a headed equaliser past Danijel Subasic.
Akinfeev and Subasic were the heroes as their sides won shoot-outs in the last 16.
This time, both saved spot kicks again but, in what was unscripted sporting drama, the side with that bit more quality triumphed.
The Russian dream is over.
Key statistics
Croatia have only become the second side (after Argentina 1990) to win two penalty shoot-outs in the same World Cup.
These two sides had only met competitively twice before. Both games, which were Euro 2008 qualifiers, ended goallessly.
Quirky fact of the day: This was the final quarter-final clash and all four were meetings between nations comprising six and seven letters on the sixth and seventh of July.
Mexico in 1986 were the last quarter-finalist hosts to go out, losing on penalties to eventual runners-up West Germany.
As we say goodbye to the Fisht Stadium, what World Cup 2018 highlights, what memories. It has hosted a classic World Cup encounter, Germany’s ultimately futile late show against Sweden, and Edinson Cavani’s swashbuckling dismissal of European champions Portugal.
What’s next?
Moscow is the next venue for Croatia and the semi-final against England, and then the final for whichever nation prevails.
A home match with the Czech Republic in September will be the next game for the hosts when the football fever which has gripped the country this past three weeks have long subsided.
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