World Cup 2018 - Game 52 - Croatia are taken to the limit by Denmark, win on penalties

Croatia was (probably) the hottest team in round one. Sure Belgium scored more goals, but Croatia only gave up one. Denmark was lucky to be in weak Group C where the only real competition was France. The only scored two goal in three games, so you would have to think that Croatia would take this easily. Again, this is the second round and anything can happen.

Denmark got things going right off the opening whistle. Jonas Knudsen with a long throw-in right in front of the goal. It was like a corner kick. The ball makes it to the ground, there's a mad scramble, and Mathias Jørgensen pokes it in under the goalkeeper at 1'. This made it very interesting. Croatia was behind for the first time in this World Cup. How would they react? The answer didn't take long. At 4', Mario Mandžukić pounced on a ball that had hit off a Denmark defender, turned, and put it in the net. This looked like it was going to be a high scoring game. Not so much. It was pretty much Croatia the rest of the game, but they couldn't get the ball in the net. It was still tied after extra time, so we went to penalties.

Croatia wins on penalties 3-2.
Denmark - Christian Eriksen (saved), Simon Kjær (made), Michael Krohn-Dehli (made), Lasse Schöne (missed), Jørgensen (saved)
Croatia - Milan Badelj (saved), Andrej Kramarić (made), Luka Modrić (made), Josip Pivarić (missed), Ivan Rakitić (made)

Croatia still had the first round magic, but they just couldn't finish. Croatia is through and they meet Russia. Croatia is better, but the hosts are riding the wave of the home fans. Denmark could never get anything going. They had to fend off Croatia's offensive machine.