THUNDERCLAP SILENCED AS MINNOWS EXIT
THEY produced the impossible dream at Euro 2016 – but Iceland could not conjure up another miracle in Russia.
The odds were always stacked against them progressing from Group D despite a shock draw with Argentina.
And goals from Milan Badelj early in the second half and a 90th-minute screamer from Manchester United target Ivan Perisic sealed top spot for Croatia to silence Iceland’s thunderclap at least until Euro 2020.
Despite nine changes to the team that beat Argentina
3-0 to clinch a place in the last 16, Croatia were too strong for Iceland, who needed their biggest result since beating England in the Euros.
Iceland created the best first-half chances but it was Croatia who went ahead on 53 minutes. Badelj had already hit the bar and made no mistake moments later, firing the ball beyond Hannes Halldorsson from a deflected cross by Josip Pivaric.
Iceland refused to surrender and Sverrir Ingason forced Lovre Kalinic to tip over a header and from the resulting corner headed against the bar.
They were level on 76 minutes after Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren handled and Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson (left) made no mistake from the penalty spot. Iceland needed a victory to have any chance of prolonging their World Cup adventure, but it was Croatia who came up with the winning goal.
Heimir Hallgrimsson and his men can go home with heads held high.
For Croatia it is a last16 showdown with Denmark on Sunday.