Mario Mandzukic scores as Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties to reach Russia 2018 quarterfinals

- Croatia will battle Russia in one of the quarterfinal matches at the ongoing World Cup on July 6

- The Croats defeated Denmark 3-2 on penalties after playing 1-1 in 120 minutes

- Luka Modric missed a penalty in the final minutes of the extra time, but still managed to motivate his teammates to victory during the spot kicks

Croatia have booked their place in this year's FIFA World Cup after edging Denmark out 3-2 on penalties after playing 1-1 in 120 minutes.

The Danish national team drew the first blood in the 57th second of the game through Mathias Joergensen's a close range strike after receiving an assist from Thomas Delaney.

Danish Dynamite were only able to keep their leadership for the first three minutes as Mario Mandzukic superb goal gave the Croats the equaliser in the game.

Having cancelled each other out in the first five minutes, both teams continued to try themselves in the game but nothing to show for it.

The trio of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic were not really effective the way they were at the group stages but the Danish side have been good enough to give them a run for their money.

Both sides wrapped up the first half of the game without scoring anymore goal than they scored earlier in the game.

On returning to the pitch for the second half, Ivan Perisic went for goal but his effort was never close to hitting the target.

As the game progressed, no goal was in sight as both teams continued to neutralise their various efforts in the game.

Luka Modric with a thunderous shot from a distance but his effort was no where near the goal post as both sides remain one goal apiece with less than 15 minutes to the end of normal proceedings at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

After either side failed to take the lead in 90 minutes, Argentina referee Nestor Pitana signaled the end of the game, which stretched the game with another 30 minutes.

The first 15 minutes of the extra time went without finding the back of the net despite the many attacking moves by the two teams.

With less than six minutes to the end of the extra minutes of the game, Mathias Joergensen hacked Ante Rebic down in the 18-yard box.

The Croats won a penalty but Luka Modric failed to convert the chance as the game further stretches into penalties after both teams played out 1-1 in 120 minutes.

Zlatko Dalić's men scored three of their penalties - just one more than the Danish side to progress to the next round where they will face host country Russia in the last eight stage of the tourney.

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Source: Naija.ng