WORLD CUP 2018 - GROUP D

A hard fought 2-1 success for Croatia means they will now meet Denmark in the knockout stages but for battling Iceland their World Cup is over.

Iceland may finished above Croatia in qualifying for the World Cup but it was the Croats who headed into the knockout stage as group winners but only after their opponents had pushed them all the way.

Not surprisingly with qualification assured Croatia made nine changes to their team and started the game brightly but as the first half wore on their sense of urgency lessened allowing Iceland to gain the upper hand.

Chances were few for either side but Iceland had to take risks as they needed a win to stand any chance of progressing and hope results elsewhere went their way in the group.

But as the first 45 minutes came to an end all they had to show for an impressive end to the half were efforts from Alfred Finnbogason, Glyfi Sigurdsson and Aron Gunnarsson.

Yet early in the second period it was Croatia who took a barely deserved lead through Milan Badelj who moments before had hit the woodwork from 25 yards. Back came Iceland and Sverrir Ingi Ingason saw a header well saved.

Then it was the woodworks turn to save Croatia as Ingason headed a corner on to the top of the bar. Results elsewhere meant the Icelanders now had to win and that failure to capitalise in the first 45 minutes was looking to cost them dear.

Still they battled but Croatia defended in depth and their opponents found chances hard to come by and even when opportunities came their wayward finishing continued until a lifeline was handed to them with 14 minutes remaining.

Croat defender Dejan Lovren handled the ball and Sigurdsson dispatched the resulting penalty. But there was to be no fairytale ending for as Iceland tired Croatia scored the winner in the final minute through Ivan Perisic to dump the opposition out of the tournament.

Iceland: 1 (Sigurdsson pen 76)

Croatia: 2 (Badelj 53, Perisic 90)

Rostov Arena