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Kasper Schmeichel’s heroics not enough as Denmark lose

to Croatia on penalties





Croatia claimed victory over Denmark via penalty

shootout after a 1-1 draw to advance to the quarter-

final of the World Cup to take on hosts Russia. Denmark

rocketed into a 1-0 lead within the opening minute

after Mathias Jørgensen converted Jonas Knudsen’s long

throw into the penalty box. It was a scrappy affair

only helped by Danijel Subasic’s poor handling in the

Croatian goal. It didn’t take long for Zlatko Dalic’s

side to return fire after Mario Mandzukic’s equally as

fortunate finish found the Denmark net in the fourth

minute. Both sides settled down throughout the

remainder of the first half, and while Croatia edged

the first 45 minutes in terms of possession and shots,

both teams went into the changing with one goal each.



The second half was a more cagey affair, with neither

team really willing to commit numbers to their attack

as they tweaked their line-up with substitutions and

opting to change their tactics. Denmark’s full-backs

were notably higher and wider than they were in the

first half, but to little avail as not even creative

maestro Christian Eriksen could penetrate the Croatian

defence even with the tactical adjustments. Croatia’s

best chance of the second half was Ivan Perisic’s 74th

minute shot which fell into Kasper Schmeichel’s hands

from 25 yards out while Denmark’s best opportunity was

Lasse Schöne’s half-volley just before full-time. With

neither side able to to replicate their high-energy

performance from the first half, extra time loomed

along with the possibility of the day’s second penalty

shootout.


Extra time was more of the same from both nations with

neither willing to commit tired bodies forward in

search of the winning goal. Pione Sisto came close in

the second half of extra time a curling right-footed

finish, but it wasn’t to be as it skimmed the post and

the penalty shootout was becoming an even more

realistic possibility. However, Jørgensen gave away a

penalty five minutes before the end to deny Croatia a

clear route through to an open goal and it looked like

Denmark’s World Cup dreams were over as the referee

pointed to the spot. But Danish keeper Schmeichel

produced a stunning save to his left to deny Luka

Modric’s spotkick and keep his country’s hopes alive.

Following Modric’s penalty miss neither side could

muster another attack and the penalty shootout was

required to find a victor.



Eriksen was the first from the spot and his penalty

kick found the left post to put Denmark into the worst

possible start. However, the Spurs’ midfielders miss

didn’t overly matter as Schmeichel saved Croatia’s

opening penalty from Milan Badelj. Simon Kjaer finally

opened the penalty shootout proceedings with a

brilliant spotkick that found the top corner, but

Andrej Kramaric leveled it at 1-1 moments later.

Michael Krohn-Dehli and Luka Modric were up next, and

both converted to lock the score in at 2-2.


Schöne and Perisic then missed, leaving the scores at

2-2, before Jorgensen then missed again for Denmark.

The responsibility then fell on Rakitic’s head, and the

Barcelona man converted to fire Croatia to the

quarter-finals, winning 3-2 on penalties. They will now

play Russia in the quarter-final on July 7 in Sochi

after the hosts also emerged victorious via penalties

earlier in the day against Spain.