Rakitic defies Schmeichel for shoot-out joy
Even the life-force that is Peter Schmeichel, leaping up and down in the stand with all the gusto of his footballing prime, could not quite rescue Denmark.
His son, Kasper, had performed heroics in saving three penalties – each greeted with the sort of fistpumping and roars that once followed Schmeichel Snr’s own most iconic moments – but it was ultimately still Croatia who prevailed 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out and will now play Russia for a place in the semi-final.
It had all been quite turgid for almost two hours in the middle of this contest but, after a goal apiece in a frantic opening four minutes, an extraordinary finale ensured that Croatia’s disappointing performance will be largely overlooked.
They are in their first World Cup quarter-final for 20 years and have a wonderful opportunity to reach the final in Moscow on July 15.
Denmark had been unbeaten in 18 games before this match and, while that showed in how they contained their more technically adept opponents for so long, it appeared to have unravelled in the 113th minute. Luka Modric had released Ante Rebic who, having rounded Schmeichel and looked certain to score, was upended by Mathias Jorgensen. Modric’s penalty, though, was superbly saved by Schmeichel and it felt like Denmark would have the momentum in the shoot-out.
Schmeichel was certainly still oozing confidence and bravado but his two further saves were cancelled out by Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, with Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen hitting the post and then both Lasse Schone and Nicolai Jorgensen also missing.
Having just wasted one chance to win the game from the penalty spot, Modric also showed considerable bravery to step up and score in a shoot-out that would end with Ivan Rakitic’s decisive strike.
“Luka said himself, ‘I am going to shoot’,” said manager Zlatko Dalic. “Can you imagine what would have happened if he had not scored? He took the responsibility as a true captain.”
Denmark, Schmeichel admitted, had not prepared in any great depth for a shoot-out, with manager Age Hareide later stressing that his three most reliable penalty-takers were in fact those who missed.
Ipswich Town’s Jonas Knudsen had been brought in at left-back after not featuring in the group games and his special talent soon become evident. Denmark won a throw-in and he duly ambled over before hurling the ball, Rory Delap-style, straight into the penalty area. Cue panic among the Croatia defence, who had not prepared for this.
The ball broke into the path of Mathias Jorgensen, whose shot glanced off the arm of Subasic before rolling into the goal. Just 61 seconds had elapsed. It was the fastest goal of the tournament.
Croatia did not panic and were level within three minutes in even more unusual circumstances. Rebic had made an excellent run down the right before Sime Vrsaljko exploited Knudsen’s hesitation to cross into the penalty area. The ball cannoned into the face of Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen and then the path of Mario Mandzukic to equalise.
Croatia Subs Denmark Subs
Booked Referee