Croatia secured their role on the 2022 World Cup with a 1-0 take care of over Russia on Sunday, a gradual enjoy goal from Fedor Kudryashov swinging the game of their favour after a anxious-fought battle in boggy stipulations in Damage up.
Finalists on the closing World Cup in 2018, Croatia regarded sure for the play-offs for significant of Sunday’s sport, as they toiled on a waterlogged pitch against a resolute Russian defence.
Nonetheless Kudryashov’s error saw them snatch high converse from the traffic eight minutes from time and actual their passage to next year’s tournament in Qatar.
“It was a complex match from the starting thanks to the rain. We never gave up, we had been affected person and I deem we obtained deservedly. We’re the correct crew on this group,” Croatia captain Luka Modric was quoted as announcing by the UEFA internet page.
An early header from Andrej Kramaric role the tone for a vital half whereby Croatia had the lion’s fragment of possession and piled on the power making an strive to acquire an opener.
Marcelo Brozovic also shaved the bar with a prolonged-vary effort, sooner than each he and Josip Juranovic compelled saves from Russian keeper Matvey Safonov.
Safonov beat away any other Kramaric header with a reflex place actual after the atomize, sooner than denying replace Bruno Petkovic on the hour save.
The stipulations made it more difficult and more difficult for Croatia because the 2d half stepped forward, with the pitch turning into ever more boggy below the heavy rain.
The possibilities had all however dried up when Borna Sosa despatched a hopeful ball into the field on 82 minutes.
Though below no power, Kudryashov struggled to manipulate the ball because it skidded on the wet ground, and watched helplessly on because it bounced off his knee and within the post.
Whereas Croatia qualify mechanically as Neighborhood H winners, Russia can smooth create it by via the play-offs.
AFP