Croatia VS Russia - Quarter-Final - Russian dream run over - Full Analysis

Hello everyone, Croatia reaches Semifinal after 20 years, Rankitic scores from the spot and by this kick Russian dreams are over. Russia puts up a great fight and determination but fell short as match advances to the Penalty shootout, let us analyze full match with stats and details.

Pic Credit: world cup 2018 live stream

(Check out my latest post, France vs Belgium, SemiFinal )
Stadium- Fisht Stadium

Teams- 

RUSSIA

Playing XI- Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudryashov, Kuzyayev, Zobnin, Samedov, Golovin, Cheryshev, Dzyuba.
Sub- Gazinsky, Dzagoev, Smolov, Yerokhin
Formation- 4-2-3-1
Manager- S. Cherchesov

CROATIA

Playing XI- Subasic, Strinic, Vida, Lovren, Vrsaljko, Rankitic, Modric, Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic, Mandzukic.
Sub- Corluka, Kovacic, Brozovic, Pivaric
Formation- 4-3-2-1
Manager- Z. Dalic

PRE-MATCH STATS

• Russia vs Croatia faced each other 3 times, 2 Draws, 1 Win for Croatia.
• Russia reached their first Quarter-Final after the break-up with USSR.
• Croatia reaching their 2nd Quarter-Final, 1st in 1998 on their WC Debut, they reached Semi-Final after beating Germany.
• Croatia scored total 8 goals in this WC, Russia scored total 9 goals in this WC.

MATCH

3"- Cheryshev takes charges into the opposition box but blocked out.

Russian fans are cheering and that support makes them the 12th man of the match.

RUSSIA 0-0 CROATIA

9"- Rebic's header from a central position misses the target. Possession is more at Croatian side.

13"- A decent cross from the right flank to the middle of the box by Vrsaljko but ball fires over the post by Mandzukic.  A nice chance missed.

RUSSIA 0-0 CROATIA

23"- Croatia retains 67% of possession as Russia tries to play defensive.

RUSSIA 0-0 CROATIA

32"- GOAL!!! Cheryshev you beauty, a magnificent shot from 25 yards sends a curling ball into the right top corner as Croatian goalkeeper doesn't even move or tries to save as he can't do anything about this shot, that is the beauty of this shot.

Russia on lead in 32nd minutes only and the majority didn't expect that.

RUSSIA 1-0 CROATIA

37"- Yellow for Lovren as he pricked the man from behind. Croatian players now seem frustrated.

39"- GOAL!!! A decent cross from Mandzukic from left, Kvamaric makes way & puts the header(guided) into the far post, Akinfeev couldn't save it all. Equaliser after only 7 minutes.

RUSSIA 1-1 CROATIA

HT

Croatia 1-1 Russia 

52"- Great control by Rebic at the sideline, kept the ball inside and makes a cross from the right side into the box where Kramaric tries to dodge & dribble Russian defense but Akinfeev judges ball nicely and quick to collect.

RUSSIA 1-1 CROATIA

62"- Complete confused Russian defense fails to clear the ball, a Great chance for Perisic who targets bottom right corner but the ball hits the inner post & rebounded to get out of play. Lucky escape for Russian.

64"- Dzyuba's header(placed) right into the hands of Subasic as he is well positioned.

RUSSIA 1-1 CROATIA

74"- A Great ball made by Fernandes, Yerokhin heads the ball over the post.

90+6"- Croatia playing lightly and calmly as they are keeping their possession. 

FT 

RUSSIA 1-1 CROATIA

EXTRA TIME (1ST HALF)

100"- GOAL!!! Croatia scores, defender scoring for them, corner kick delivers the ball into the middle of the box as Vida remains unmarked, heads the ball into the right corner.

RUSSIA 1-2 CROATIA

EXTRA TIME( HALFTIME)

110"- Yellow for Gazinsky.

112"- Kuzyayev shot on goal saved by Subasic.

114"- Yellow card for Pivaric for handball outside the box. Russia got a free kick from 20 yards.

115"- GOAL!!! Fernandes heads the ball into the far post as Russia equalize, Spectators shouting and cheering on their seats.

FULL TIME 

RUSSIA 2-2 CROATIA

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

1st Kick

Russia- Smolov- Saved - ❌(0)- Saved on the right side as he tries to chips it in.

Croatia- Brozovic- Scores- ✅(1)

2nd Kick

Russia- Dzagoev-Scores-❌✅(1)

Croatia- Kovacic-Saved-✅❌(1)- Saved by Akinfeev as he dives to his left.

3rd Kick

Russia- Fernandes- Misses-❌✅❌(1)- Shot on the Right side but the hit on the post and deflected.

Croatia- Modric- Goal-✅❌✅(2)- Lucky Modric, shot on the right side but goalkeeper touches his hand and ball hit the post but rebounded inside and goal on the left side.

4th Kick

Russia- Ignashevich-Scores-❌✅❌✅(2)

Croatia- Vida- Scores-✅❌✅✅(3)

5th Kick

Russia- Kuzyayev-Scores-❌✅❌✅✅(3)

Croatia- Rakitic- Scores- ✅❌✅✅✅(4)

RUSSIA 2(3) - 2(4)

STATS

RUSSIA

Shots               13

On Target        05

Possession       35%

Passes               400

Accuracy          65%

Fouls                 25

Yellow Card       01

CROATIA

Shots                18

On Target         03

Possession        65%

Passes               730

Accuracy          81%

Fouls                 18

Yellow Card      04

• Croatia reaches Semifinal after 20 Years, last time they were in Semifinal in 1998 when they debut in WC.
• Croatia dominates the game with possession, passes, and accuracy.
• Russia gives a great competition, Cheryshev's goal was a beauty and maybe the best goal of this WC.
• Croatia back to back 2 Penalty shootout wins in WC, in the round of 16 against Denmark, QF against Russia.
• SEMIFINAL - ENGLAND vs CROATIA.