National Teams

An excellent performance

2:0 win takes
Croatia to the World
Cup!

19.11.2013.
2:0 win takes Croatia to the World Cup!
  • Match report
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After the draw in Reykjavik, Croatian national football team reached the goal of playing at the world stage in Brazil next year with an aggregate 2:0 win.

CROATIA - ICELAND 2:0 (1:0)
World Cup 2014 play-offs, November 19th, 2013.
Zagreb, Maksimir Stadium.

Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)

Goalscorers: 1:0 - Mandžukić (27'), 2:0 - Srna (47')

Yellow Cards: Olić (7'), R. Sigurdsson (45'), Šimunić (51'), Hallfredsson (84')

Red Card: Mandžukić (38')

Croatia: Pletikosa, Pranjić, Šimunić, Ćorluka, Srna, Kovačić (74' Rebić), Rakitić, Modrić (89' Lovren), Perišić, Olić (80' Jelavić), Mandžukić. Head Coach: N. Kovač.

Iceland: Halldorsson, R. Sigurdsson, Arnason, Saevarsson, A. Skulason, Gunnarsson (72' Hallfredsson), Bjarnason, Gudmundsson, G. Sigurdsson, Finnbogason, Gudjohnsen (64' Gislason). Head Coach: L. Lagerbäck.

Croatian national football team, under the guidance of head coach Niko Kovač, has secured a place at the World Cup in Brazil. After the goalless draw in the first leg, Croatia beat Iceland 2:0 in the second leg to make it to the next summer's world stage.

Croatia put pressure on the visitors from the first minute and the first Kovačić's attempt, but shortly, on the other side, Pletikosa had to pick up the ball from his net. However, the referee has signalled offside.

There was plenty of action in Halldorsson's box, and Croatian captain Srna threatened with a dangerous free kick in the 20th minute.

In the 27th minute, Croatia eventually scored. Rakitić and Perišić delivered the ball to Mandžukić at the far post, and he didn't miss, much to the joy of the home crowd at Maksimir. Ten minutes later, Mandžukić was also sent-off for a foul on Gudmundsson.

Ten-men Croatia scored again at the beginning of the second half. Kovačić made a run to the Icelandic box, and Srna beat Halldorsson with a low shot.

Croatia didn't stop there. In the 58th minute Kovačić again beat his defenders, and Olić struck the post with a brilliant bicycle kick. Later, Modrić led a counter-attack which Perišić failed to finish, and Pranjić missed another good chance in front of Halldorsson.

In the end, Iceland couldn't prevent the Croatian celebrations, on and off the field.

19.11.2013., Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb. Spectators: 22612
Referees: Bjorn KUIPERS (NED), Sander VAN ROEKEL (NED), Erwin ZEINSTRA (NED)
Fourth referee: Paulus VAN BOEKEL (NED)
Croatia
2
Iceland
0
1Stipe Pletikosa12Hannes Halldorsson
3Josip Šimunić
51'
2Birkir Saevarsson
4Ivan Perišić6Ragnar Sigurdsson
45'
5Vedran Ćorluka7Johann Gudmundsson
7Ivan Rakitić8Birkir Bjarnason
10Luka Modrić
89'
10Gylfi Sigurdsson
11Darijo Srna
47'
11Alfred Finnbogason
17Mario Mandžukić
27'
38'
14Kari Arnason
18Ivica Olić
7'
80'
17Aron Gunnarsson
72'
20Mateo Kovačić
74'
22Eidur Gudjohnsen
64'
21Danijel Pranjić23Ari Skulason
Bench
12Lovre Kalinić1Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson
23Danijel Subašić20Haraldur Bjornsson
2Šime Vrsaljko3Hallgrimur Jonasson
6Dejan Lovren
89'
4Eggert Jonsson
8Mate Maleš5Solvi Ottesen
9Nikica Jelavić
80'
13Victor Palsson
13Gordon Schildenfeld15Helgi Danielsson
14Leon Benko16Kristinn Jonsson
15Ante Rebić
74'
18Arnor Smarason
16Milan Badelj19Rurik Gislason
64'
19Niko Kranjčar21Emil Hallfredsson
85'
72'
22Eduardo Alves Da Silva
Coaches
Niko KovačLars Lagerbäck