{"id":2371,"date":"2018-07-07T19:53:40","date_gmt":"2018-07-08T00:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=2371"},"modified":"2018-07-08T09:54:55","modified_gmt":"2018-07-08T14:54:55","slug":"croatia-eliminate-russian-hosts-in-penalty-shoot-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=2371","title":{"rendered":"Croatia Eliminate Russian Hosts in Penalty Shoot Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Croatia are through to the World Cup semi-finals after Zlatko Dalic’s side beat hosts Russia 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in their last-eight match in Sochi.<\/p>\n

Ivan Rakitic converted the decisive spot-kick after Mario Fernandes, who had netted an equalizer for Russia with five minutes of extra-time remaining, hit his effort from 12 yards wide.<\/p>\n

Denis Cheryshev had put Russia in front in the 31st minute with a superb strike – his fourth goal of the tournament – but that was cancelled out eight minutes later by Andrej Kramaric’s header.<\/p>\n

Croatia, having gone close in the 60th minute when Ivan Perisic hit a post, then had the lead in the 11th minute of extra-time as Domagoj Vida nodded in, before Fernandes brought things level late on once again with a header of his own.<\/p>\n

Croatia’s win sees them emulate their 1998 achievement of reaching the World Cup’s last four.<\/p>\n

They will now take on England at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday for a place in the final.<\/p>\n

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