Prior to this year’s FIFA World Cup, the Russians were written off as one of the worst sides in the country’s history
But they defied all odds to reach the Russia have gone further than ever before as an independent nation at a World Cup, reaching the final eight for the first time since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
But Croatia cruelly ended their fairy tale to reach the semi-finals decades after two decades.
Cheryshev opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a sublime finish when his team mate, Dzyuba slipped around the Croatian defence and squared the ball to him. He thereafter launched a 25-yard shot that rippled the net to leave Croatians were shell-shocked.
However, Kramaric responded just eight-minutes later when Mandzukic squared Akinfeev to head home to send the match to extra time.
Croatia’s Vida gave his side the advantage in the first half of the extra time when his header flew in at the bottom-right corner when Russia conceded a corner kick but a resilient Russia replied in the 155th minute through Fernandes which sent the pulsating encounter to the penalty shootouts.
Unfortunately, the Russians couldn’t hold their nerves as they lost to their opponent 4-3.
Source: www.Ghgossip.com
