In a match that started with two quick goals – one for each side, there was surprisingly no other goals. After Jorgensen scored for the Danes in the very 1st minute of the game and Croatia equalized barely 3 minutes later through Mandzukic, more goals were expected by the fans but this was not to be.
The game went into extra time and still no further goals were recorded. The match therefore had to be decided via penalties which Croatia won 3:2.
Speaking after the match, the Dane Coach, Age Hareide said “Our three best players for penalties all missed their penalties today. I feel sorry for Kasper and the whole team. But that is what can happen in penalties, and is the brutality of football. Croatia are the best team in Europe for counter-attacks. Having control was important and I thought we had that in the second half.”
For Zlatko Dalic, the Croatian Coach, all he had was praise for his team. He said
We stayed mentally strong, controlled and we won eventually. This is a reward for all our hard work, and that makes it all the sweeter.
“So far we have played well, and won in superior fashion. But you have to have difficult moments. We haven’t played a great game, not like the level of our first three games. My faith in my players is even stronger after such a game like tonight.
“He (Danijel Subasic) was a hero tonight. He saved three penalties in the shoot-out and you don’t see that every day. He pulled us out tonight when we needed it and congratulations to him.”
Croatia will now take on Russia in the quarter finals.