Just Four Things: Iceland Vs. Croatia

Credits: Squawka Football

Iceland’s Efforts Strong

They looked out of depth at first in the early moments of the match. But Iceland found their groove somewhere through the first half. Iceland came towards to Croatia’s doorstep to find that early goal. They had chances. Three of them at least to get it. Alfred Finnbogason was cleverly set-up with a clear sight on goal, but somehow missed. Birkir Bjarnason had a shot after the corner was fluffed, but it was blocked and Aron Gunnarson’s curler was wonderfully saved.

In the end, they rued those chances when Milan Badelj was running into the box unmarked to bury a deflected cutback past Hannes Halldorsson. No one somehow picked him up with Hordur Magnusson guilty of ball watching. Immediately, Iceland had two great headers by Sverrir Ingason where one was saved and the other hit the bar. Despair was beginning to set into the Iceland camp. Then…

They Had The Chance

Iceland then won a penalty with 15 minutes to go when Dejan Lovren was punished for a handball. Gylfi Sigurdsson stepped up and this time he did score the penalty to give Iceland some hope. They were further given encouragement when Argentina retook the lead thanks to Marcos Rojo on 86 minutes.

Arnor Traustason came on late for Bjarnason and relayed this message to rally Iceland to get the winning goal themselves. All Iceland need is to score their own winning goal. Score and they go ahead on goal difference with so little time left. But then…
 

Croatia Plays Party-Pooper

Croatia though did not let sentiment get in the way of approaching this match. If they have the chance to get a go on Iceland, they will go for it. They frustrated Iceland early on when they decided to play the possession game. It was grating, but it was effective. After all, Croatia already achieved their second round ticket. There was no reason for them to go all out.

That is until Iceland suddenly threatened. Croatia had to sit back to thwarted those attacks. After the restart, Croatia decided to emerge and repeat their adventurous attack that saw them defeat to Argentina They showed that when Luka Modric’ cutback was deflected in the air and Badelj’s half-volley went in.

Although they do find decisive chances hard to come by. But when they do have one, they definitely took it. But it came at a moment hopes were looking up for Iceland. Badelj was at the center again, but this time as the provider to play a through pass to Ivan Perisic who did well to convert the chance on 90 minutes to break Iceland hearts.

Lovre Kalinic also proved to be a reliable back-up keeper by keeping out that Gunnarson curler and tipped over Ingason’s first header that was going in seconds after Croatia took the lead too. They head into the second round against Denmark full of confidence.

Claps All Around

It was a do-or-die situation and the Iceland fans know it. They want to rally their team to get the win that would’ve kept them alive in the World Cup. And they did it in the one way they know they can. Their Viking Thunderclap chant. In some parts of the match, those loud claps were heard throughout the whole arena. But as time went on, more and more people joined in the fray.

Iceland must’ve heard it loud and clear given they did so well to create chances and going forward. But they couldn’t convert them. In the end, they couldn’t repeat their Euro 2016 heroics. It just wasn’t meant to be for Iceland and the darling team sadly goes home.

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