National Teams

Equalizer on 90 minutes

Croatia and Finland
share the spoils in
Rijeka

06.10.2017.
Croatia and Finland share the spoils in Rijeka
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
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In the final home match of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group I, Croatia hosted Finland in Rijeka.

CROATIA - FINLAND 1:1 (0:0)
2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group I.
HNK Rijeka Stadium, Rijeka.

Referee: D. Stefanski (Poland)

Goals: 1:0 - Mandžukić (57'), 1:1 - Soiri (90')

Cautions: Hetemaj (75')

Croatia: Subašić, Pivarić, Mitrović, Vida, Vrsaljko, Modrić, Rakitić, Brozović (54' Rog), Kramarić (81' Čop), Perišić, Mandžukić (85' Pašalić). Head coach: A. Čačić.

Finland: Hradecky, Arajuuri, Moisander, Ojala, Schüller (68' Pukki), Sparv, Granlund, Hämäläinen, Hetemaj (80' Soiri), Skrabb, Pohjanpalo. Head coach: M. Kanerva.

Croatia national football team has shared the spoils (1:1) with Finland at Rujevica Stadium in the ninth round European Qualifiers.

Ćorluka, Kovačić, N. Kalinić, Pjaca, Lovren, Jedvaj, and Barišić were all unavailable due to injuries, while Badelj was suspended. On the other hand, the game was a very special occasion for captain Modrić, who celebrated his 100th Croatia cap and received gifts. 

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Despite having more than 70-percent ball possession, Croatia did not manage to find a breakthrough in the first half. Vida came really close on 21 minute, when Schüller cleared his header off the line.

Previously, Vrsaljko finished a quality move with a low shot that went just wide and later on Hradecky saved Modrić's free-kick. Moreover, Perišić had two efforts that did not find the target.

Croatia's pressure in the opening minutes of the second-half was capitalized on 57 minutes, following a quality Modrić effort and an excellent Subašić's save on Pohjanpalo's header. It was Mandžukić who tapped in Pivarić' low cross that was deflected off visitors' defence.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Later on, Modrić and Rog took a shot from distance, but Finland did a better job in the closing minutes, creating several dangerous situation in Croatia's box. Finally, the debutant Soiri beat Subašić on 90 minutes to make it 1:1.

This evening, Iceland won away at Turkey 3:0, while Ukraine celebrated a 2:0 win at Kosovo. On Monday, Croatia visits Ukraine, Iceland hosts Kosovo, and Finland plays against Turkey.

2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Group I:
1. Iceland 19
2. Croatia 17
3. Ukraine 17
4. Turkey 14
5. Finland 8
6. Kosovo 1

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

06.10.2017., HNK Rijeka, Rijeka. Spectators: 8191
Referees: Daniel Stefanski (POL), Krzysztof Myrmus (POL), Igor Dawid Golis (POL)
Fourth referee: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Croatia
1
Finland
1
23Danijel Subašić1Lukas Hradecky
9Andrej Kramarić
81'		2Paulus Arajuuri
7Ivan Rakitić3NIklas Kristian Moisander
10Luka Modrić5Juhani Ojala
2Šime Vrsaljko8Perparim Hetemaj
75'
80'
5Matej Mitrović11Rasmus Schüller
69'
22Josip Pivarić14Tim Sparv
4Ivan Perišić16Simon Skrabb
17Mario Mandžukić
57'
85'		20Joel Pohjanpalo
21Domagoj Vida21Kasper Hämäläinen
11Marcelo Brozović
54'		22Albin Granlund
Bench
1Dominik Livaković12Jesse Joronen
12Lovre Kalinić23Anssi Jaakkola
18Filip Bradarić7Pyry Soiri
90'
80'
20Mario Pašalić
85'		10Teemu Eino Antero Pukki
69'
8Ivan Santini4Joona Toivio
14Duje Čop
81'		6Glen Kamara
15Marko Rog
89'
54'		9Eero Markkanen
13Zoran Nižić13Dani Hatakka
6Duje Ćaleta-Car15Sauli Väisänen
19Antonio Milić17Juha Pirinen
18Jasse Tuominen
19Thomas Lam
Coaches
Ante ČačićMarkku Kanerva

Croatia head coach Ante Čačić and captain Luka Modrić held a press conference on the eve in Finland qualifier.

Croatia national team tops the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying Group I, but only both wins in the two remaining matches - against Finland in Rijeka and against Ukraine in Kiev - can guarantee the final tournament berth.

"The game versus Finland will be a tough one. Three points are the key to our objective. Finland is defensively strong, loses only by a narrow scoreline, and moreover, won its two previous matches. They are feeling good, but the outcome must be determined by Croatia's performance. Croatia deserves to go to the World Cup, and the players are aware of this crucial moment. The pitch condition is excellent and that suits us, since Finland will wait for our mistakes. We have to stay focused and aggressive in order to overcome this first October obstacle", says Croatia head coach Ante Čačić.

Croatia will be without the injured Ćorluka, Lovren, Kovačić, N. Kalinić, Pjaca, Jedvaj, and Barišić, but will not change the usual formation. 

"It is difficult to change the system in this short period of time. We have players that can meet this challenge, and I expect fans' support since Croatian people can really be proud of their national team", added Čačić.

Captain Luka Modrić will celebrate its 100th cap for Croatia.

"This is a very emotional week for me, considering the birth of my third child, daughter Sofija, and the 100th cap for Croatia. That makes me very happy and proud. To be honest, I have never expected to reach this number, my dream was only to play for Croatia at least once. This jubilee is beyond all expectations. Let us hope for a positive outcome to complete this week. We are aware of the situtation in our group, aware of the expectations, and we know what we have to do to reach Russia. I believe we'll put in a quality performance in both matches, that we will be tough, focused and play even better than in previous matches. Quality is on our side, but we need to present it on the field of play".