itsbeautifuloutside

---

Match Report :

IBO Reporter: theinvisibleman

---

Preamble:

I’ve typed this match report while watching the game on TV, so if it is a bit disjointed or there’s a present tense when it should be past tense, sorry, proof reading my own work isn’t one of my strong suits. Any errors are mine.

We’re now into the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup finals and here there are no second chances, you either win or you’re gone. Croatia haven’t won a knockout game in a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, when they beat Germany 3-0 in the quarter finals. Whoever prevails have a chance of meeting England in the semis - IF (and we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves here) England get that far but, as far as this game is concerned, Croatia are the firm favourites, having beaten Argentina comfortably in the group stage.

That said, people thought Spain were favourites against Russia earlier in the afternoon but Spain played abominably and went out on penalties, although, personally, I don’t see Croatia falling flat on their faces in the same way.

Ex-Saint Dejan Lovren of Croatia has been quoted as ‘thriving on insults’ and wanting to ‘prove he’s one of the best defenders in the world’…okay then, come on Denmark.

The winners of this game will go to Sochi to play Russia in the quarter finals, Russia having eventually prevailed on penalties after an atrocious game against Spain earlier in the day.

Denmark have got to the next round in four of the five knockout stages they’ve been in. Denmark’s 6’7” defender Jannik Vestergaard, currently with Borussia Mönchengladbach, has been linked with Saints in recent days as a long-overdue replacement for Virgil van Dijk in Saints’ ropey back line. However, he started on the bench for this game.

---

First Half

What a start! Denmark went 1-0 up in the 1st minute after a long throw from Knudsen, the ball crept over the line from Mathias Jørgensen, but Croatia weren’t behind for long, with an equaliser in the 4th minute from Mario Mandžukić. However, there was an element of serendipity about both goals, but the game soon settled and I was expecting the rest of it to be Dull, twinned with Boring - and I wasn’t entirely wrong, as the rest of the game failed to reach the dizzy heights of the first few minutes.

In the 20th minute, Mandžukić went down and Croatia had a penalty shout which the referee dismissed, and the ref’s decision was backed up by the VAR review. So far, Croatia have edged it but Denmark are not to be written off, with both sides having had at least half chances but the game failed to live up to its exciting start but in the 39th minute Dejan Lovren narrowly missed a header on goal from a Luka Modrić free kick.

A lot of the game was played in midfield during the first half, with Croatia having most of the possession, 61% as opposed to Denmark’s 39%.

There was 1 minute of added time at the end of the first half. The game thus far was more absorbing rather than good, with Croatia being held by a limited (it has to be said) Denmark, although I am probably being too kind.

Half time - Croatia 1 (Mandžukić, 4’), Denmark 1 (Jørgensen, 1’)

---

Second Half

Denmark’s half time sub was Lasse Schöne for Andreas Christiansen, with Croatia as they were before half time.

It was pretty dull fare during the second half, as Denmark nullified Croatian attacks without offering up too much themselves; and there was more than an element of 'public service vehicle' parking in front of goal. However, Jørgensen had a good chance to score in the 72nd minute but, in the end, just managed a tame shot at Subašić.

Later in the second half Croatia stepped it up a bit and had the better chances, but didn’t find a way past Denmark, although Rakitić had a go in the 92nd minute which went wide, as did Braithwaite’s effort from a Denmark corner.

Full time - Croatia 1 (Mandžukić, 4’), Denmark 1 (Jørgensen, 1’)

So it went to extra time and the possibility of penalties, despite me hoping that someone, anyone, could pop one in and settle matters long before the regulation 90 minutes was up (a Dejan Lovren own goal would have been ideal).

---

Extra Time

First half of extra time:

The first period of extra time was all Denmark, with some good but sadly wasted chances. Schöne had a good chance for Denmark but his shot in the 9th minute of ET was wide.

Mandžukić had a chance in the 14th minute of ET which Kasper Schmeichel tipped onto the roof of the net.

Half time of extra time and it was still 1-1.

Second half of extra time:

Pione Sisto is on for Braithwaite in the 105th minute - Sisto is another one I believe has been recently linked with Saints, albeit tenuously.

In the 24th min of extra time there was high drama with Modrić through on goal but brought down by M. Jørgensen, resulting in a penalty to Croatia, which was saved by Schmeichel from Modrić himself. It was a lousy penalty, straight at Schmeichel, but still had to be saved.

Modrić also had a chance in the 29th minute of extra time, from open play this time, but again it was straight at Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

At the end of extra time the score was still 1-1, so penalties it was and it would be interesting to see if Luka Modrić would be among the volunteers to take one.

---

Penalties

Denmark (went first)

Eriksen - saved, 0-0

Kjaer - scored, 1-0

Krohn-Dehli - scored, 2-1

Schöne - saved, 2-2

N. Jørgensen - awful penalty, saved, 2-2

Croatia

Badelj - saved, 0-0

Kramarić - scored, 1-1 (crap penalty but it went in and they all count)

Modrić - scored, 2-2 (fair play to him for stepping up after his awful penalty in extra time)

Pivarić - saved, 2-2

Rakitić - scored, 2-3

Croatia go through on penalties. As an England fan, I feel gutted for Denmark, as it really is a crappy way to go out of a tournament and I can’t really say Croatia deserved it, but that's the way it goes and there's no other sensible way of settling matters as it was one of those games where they could have played until the following morning and nobody would have scored. Anyway, Croatia will now face Russia in Sochi next Saturday in the quarter finals.

As an aside, I wish the commentators would stop counting English chickens every chance they get. England play Colombia in their next game on Tuesday, and there’s every chance Colombia could do a number on them.

---