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FIFA World Cup 2018: Iceland vs Croatia; Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to top Group D

By FnF Desk | PUBLISHED: 28, Jun 2018, 18:51 pm IST | UPDATED: 28, Jun 2018, 23:21 pm IST

FIFA World Cup 2018: Iceland vs Croatia; Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to top Group D Rostov:  Iceland's first World Cup adventure came to an end on Tuesday with a 2-1 loss by Group D winners Croatia due to a late strike from Ivan Perisic. The debutants missed several chances in the first half which ended goalless but went behind in the second after a lethal strike by Croatia midfielder Milan Badelj. Gylfi Sigurdsson levelled from the penalty spot in the 76th minute but their joy was shortlived after Perisic scored a last-minute goal to end Croatia’s group campaign at the top with nine points.

FULL TIME:

Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to top Group D, face Denmark in round of 16

Four minutes of injury time added

90' GOAL! Perisic scores to hand Croatia 2-1 lead in the dying minutes of the match.

81' SUBSTITUTION! Kovacic leaves the field with Croatia bringing Rakitic on.

76' GOAL! G Sigurdsson converts the penalty kick to make it 1-1 for Iceland.

75' Iceland get a penalty kick after the ball touches the hand of a Croatia defender deep in the box.

73' Iceland miss a golden chance to make it 1-1. Finnbogason runs towards the penalty area, sends in low cross at the far post but Bjarnason fails to get it there.

70' SUBSTITUTION! Change for Iceland. Iceland bring on Sigurdarson in place Ragnar Sigurdsson.

70' SUBSTITUTION! Another change for Croatia, Pjaca makes way for Lovren.

65' SUBSTITUTION! Bradaric comes in to replace Modric for Croatia.

64' Iceland's Alfred Finnbogason gets the yellow card for sliding in on Croatia keeper Kalinic.

59' Hallfredsson of Iceland shown the yellow card for a foul on Pjaca.

53' GOAL! Badelj makes no mistake this time as he fires a half-volley into the net to give Croatia 1-0 lead.

51' Croatia had a best chance of the match so far. Milan Badelj's shot hits the goal post. Luck survival for Iceland.

47' Iceland get the free kick. Sigurdsson takes it and Croatia keeper Kalinic grabs it safely.

46' Second half gets underway with Croatia taking the kick.

HALF-TIME: Iceland 0-0 Croatia

45+2: Croatia keeper Lovre Kalinic comes up with spectacular save, makes a superb dive to deny Gunnarsson's shot. He tips the ball around the post.

Two minutes of injury time added

44' Another shot for Iceland at goal. Hallfredsson's shot from 30 yards flies over the bar.

40' Iceland has been unlucky so far in the contest. Finnbogason takes the ball and shoots it from the 18 yards but goes just wide of the bar.

37' Croatia Ivan Perisic controls the ball and fires a volley from 25 yards which goes wide of the target.

34' Iceland is clearly dominating the proceedings with their numerous attacks. Magnusson had a chance but his effort was blocked by Croatia defence.

30' Free kick for Iceland. Gylfi Sigurdsson unleashes it towards the goal. Croatia keeper Lovre Kalinic manage to take the ball.

28' Iceland had a corner. Magnusson collects the pass but his header goes high over the bar.

26' Iceland miss the chance. Gunnarsson with long throw-in from the left touchline but no player able to connect with their head.

19' Croatia get the first corner of the match. Iceland defence easily avert the danger.

Meanwhile, Messi scores to give Argentina 1-0 lead Nigeria in other Group D match.

14' Marko Pjaca gets yellow card for his foul.

12' Birkir Bjarnason is bleeding heavily and leaving the field and after being hit by Marko Pjaca.

8' Croatia's Marko Pjaca had a chance. He takes the possession of the ball, runs through Iceland's box but goes down after colliding with Iceland's Gunnarsson.

7' Iceland on the attack on the edge of the box from left side, Gylfi Sigurdsson sends in a low cross but Croatia defender clears it easily.

4' Both Croatia and Iceland off to a sedate start. No shot on the goal so far.

1' Referee blows the whistle and the match gets underway with Iceland taking the opening kick.

Players are out on the field and it's time for national anthem at Rostov Arena.

TEAM NEWS

Luka Modric will lead an almost entirely revamped Croatia when his already-qualified team takes on Iceland in their final Group D game at the World Cup on Tuesday.

The midfielder is one of two players along with Ivan Perisic named by coach Zlatko Dalic in the lineup who also started in Croatia's resounding 3-0 win against Argentina.

Iceland have made three changes, with Jon Bordvarsson being left on the bench to leave Alfred Finnbogason as a lone striker in front of a five-man midfield.

Croatia will top the group with at least a draw while Iceland must win to have a chance of reaching the last 16 while also needing the Nigeria-Argentina result to go their way.

LINE-UPS

Iceland:

Hannes Thor Halldorsson; Birkir Mar Saevarsson, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Hordur Bjorgvin Magnusson; Emil Hallfredsson, Aron Gunnarsson (C); Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Birkir Bjarnason; Alfred Finnbogason

Croatia:

Lovre Kalinic; Tin Jedvaj, Vedran Corluka, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Pivaric; Luka Modric (C), Milan Badelj; Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic, Marko Pjaca; Andrej Kramaric
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