Ivan Perisic scored a late winner to help Croatia beat Iceland 2-1 to top Group D and end the brave debutant’s World Cup dreams.
Iceland were agonisingly close of taking the lead before the break but Birkir Bjarnason had two shots from corners blocked. Lovre Kalinic then pulled off a fine flying save to keep out Aron Gunnarsson. After the break, Milan Badelj put Croatia in front with a brilliant half-volley from Perisic’s cross.
Iceland, however, were not ready to throw in the towel and were soon rewarded for their perseverance With 15 minutes remaining, Gylfi Sigurdsson scored the equaliser after Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren handled the ball in the area.
With Argentina winning against Nigeria, Iceland needed one more goal to make it to the last 16. They pressed for a winner but were caught out in injury time when Perisic brought the ball down on the left of the area and fired beyond Hannes Halldorsson to break their hearts.
The defeat would be a tough pill to swallow for the Icelanders. They throughly dominated the contest before the break. After a slow start, Iceland got the first clear sight of goal as Sigurdsson’s curling 25-yard free kick was comfortably caught by Kalinic. Bjarnason then had scuffed double effort from the edge of the box blocked.
With time running away and Argentina 1-0 up, Iceland needed a goal and they got as many as three chancesin five minutes before the break.
First Alfred Finnbogason sidefooted a shot inches wide of the target after playing a neat one two on the edge of the box with Sigurdsson.
Bjarnason then saw his close-range shot blocked by Kalinic’s legs after the keeper had spilled a corner. The Croatia goalkeeper then pulled off an even better stop to claw away Aron Gunnarsson’s curling shot.
Croatia started in a much better way after the break and soon took the lead. In the 53rd minute, Badelj fired them ahead after Josip Pivaric’s cross deflected perfectly into his path.
While the goal would have broken many Iceland fans’ hearts, their players responded with intensity and intent. And they eventually got their reward when Lovren handled the ball. Sigurdsson made no mistake from the spot to infuse life in the thrilling contest. Iceland threw men forward in search of a winner which looked increasingly like it would send them through.
However, it all ended in a heartbreak as Perisic fired a powerful shot which Halldorsson could only palm into the top corner.
Croatia will now take on Denmark in the next round.