Rostov-on-Don: Croatia secured first place in Group D after a hard-fought 2-1 win over gallant Iceland here, setting up a World Cup last 16 tie with Denmark.
While most eyes were on Argentina and their do-or-die match with Nigeria in St Petersburg, Croatia wrapped up top spot in the group thanks to a slick second half volley by Milan Badelj and a late strike by Ivan Perisic, sandwiching a penalty equaliser from Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic rested most of the side that thumped Argentina 3-0, with only captain Luka Modric and winger Perisic keeping their places.
Needing a point to make certain of top spot, Croatia dominated early on with Real Madrid pair Modric and Mateo Kovacic dictating the tempo without creating clear chances.
Midway through the opening period the Nordic side, who had beaten Croatia in qualifying for Russia, took control, threatening from set-pieces and interceptions.
Soon after the break the match turned when Fiorentina midfielder Badelj first clipped the bar with a long-range drive, then made no mistake soon after on 53 minutes.
The 29-year-old got his right foot over a deflected cross and fired a volley wide of Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson to give Croatia the lead.
Iceland had to claim their first ever World Cup victory to have a chance of advancing and, urged on by fans chanting their famous Viking thunderclap, almost equalised immediately.
First, a flick-on from captain Aron Gunnarsson’s long throw found Sverrir Ingason whose header was tipped over by Kalinic. Moments later Ingason, who plays his club football for Rostov, went even closer but his header hit the crossbar.
On 74 minutes, Iceland’s lifeline arrived when Dejan Lovren handled a cross by Sigurdsson in the penalty area. Sigurdsson, who had ballooned a penalty over the bar against Nigeria, dispatched his shot into the roof of the net with Kalinic diving the wrong way.
Then on 90 minutes, Perisic delivered the final blow. Sent into space on the left of the area the Inter Milan winger blasted a shot that ended both the game and Iceland’s World Cup, putting Croatia through to a match against the Danes in Nizhny Novogrod Sunday.
We did everything we could, if you do that you can’t be disappointed, we can look each other in the eye and can carry our heads high. We never gave up… kept on going
Heimir Hallgrimsson / Iceland coach
Iceland showed good character, discipline, and fight. The win was satisfactory. But, the focus now moves to the Denmark game, it will be a moment of truth
Zlatko Dalic / Croatia coach