Round of 16: ‘Hero’ goalie Subasic sends Croats to quarters
Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saved three penalties in the shootout.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA— Danijel Subasic saved three penalties, and Croatia’s World Cup hopes.
In the second straight shootout of the tournament, the Croats advanced to the quarterfinals on Sunday with a 3-2 victory over Denmark on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
Subasic tipped the first penalty of the shootout from Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen onto the post. He then dived to his right to save an attempt from substitute Lasse Schone. Finally, he used his feet to block Nicolai Jorgensen’s attempt.
“He was a hero tonight,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. “He saved three penalties in a shootout. You don’t see that every day.”
Subasic became only the second goalkeeper to save three penalties in a shootout at the World Cup, matching the feat of Portugal keeper Ricardo against England in 2006.
Croatia will next face host Russia in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Sochi. Russia also advanced on penalties, beating Spain 4-3 following another 1-1 draw.
Croatia had a chance to take the lead late in the game at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, but Luka Modric’s penalty was saved by Kasper Schmeichel. The Denmark goalkeeper, who also saved a pair of penalties in the shootout, dived to his left to smother Modric’s attempt in the 116th minute.
Subasic’s three saves and Schmeichel’s two made it the most combined saves in a World Cup shootout.
Modric, however, made his penalty in the shootout and Ivan Rakitic scored the decider with a shot to the left side of the net as Schmeichel dived the wrong way.
After surviving the shootout, Subasic had to survive the celebration. Domagoj Vida lifted the keeper onto his shoulders as they celebrated the win, and then dropped him. “He is fine,” Dalic said. In the shootout, Schmeichel saved attempts from Milan Badelj and Josip Pivaric.
“I am so sorry for Kasper and the whole team,” Denmark coach Age Hareide said.
“That’s just the brutality of football.”