Russia players during training ahead of their quarterfinals match against Croatia. (Source: Reuters) Russia players during training ahead of their quarterfinals match against Croatia. (Source: Reuters) Both Croatia and hosts Russia are playing their dream World Cup this year. If anyone had said a month back that Russia, the lowest ranked team this World Cup, had a chance of making it to the semifinals, everyone would have laughed at them. But this World Cup has not gone as expected, with giants like defending champions Germany, Spain, Argentina and Brazil already eliminated. Stanislav Cherchesov’s side failed to win any of their pre-World Cup friendlies, gaining seat to the tournament for being the host nation. Four matches down the line, Cherchesov is being called a tactical genius, with Russian fans paying tribute to him by celebrating with fake mustaches, complimenting their coach’s facial features after the side reached the first quarterfinals in the history of the tournament. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev had his side in awe after being their saviour in the penalty shootout against Spain with calls being made to honour him with the Hero of Russia medal. Russia are in the quarterfinals, and are becoming the team to fear, as they deliever at the International stage performances that no one expected of them. With the home crowd cheering them on, they have sent a strong message: tread with caution. Something Spain realised a touch too late. “The country believed in us,” midfielder Yuri Gazinsky said. “A lot of people during the match against the Spanish had doubts but we managed to prove that they can believe in us.” Both the countries went to penalties in their Round of 16 matches to reach quarterfinals where they face each other on Saturday. While Croatia fought off Denmark, Russia got rid of Spain to reach their best World Cup position ever. Croatia’s Luka Modric during training. (Source: Reuters) Croatia’s Luka Modric during training. (Source: Reuters) When Croatia made their debut twenty years back, they finished third, a feat that has rarely happened at a World Cup. The debut set a standard that has been difficult to live up to by every team that has participated since then. Luka Modric’s side now have a chance to repeat glory of the class of 1998. And if they do so, the names of Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic will be uttered in the same breath as the likes of Hakan Sukur and other stars of 1998. And if they fail to deliver this time, it will be a similar story for the fans of the Croatian national team. And the players have realised what they are up for, requesting in different ways for the supporters not to draw the similarities between them and the team of 1998, adding to their pressure. “At this point we need to forget about them, with all respect to them,” said Rakitic. “It has been talked a lot about the two teams and their similarities,” Perisic said. “They achieved a historic result in France. Now we’ve come close and hopefully we can even do it a little bit better than them. We know our quality and we believe in ourselves and we are on the right track at the moment.” Modric has been deadly in the group performances and has been in the limelight since the departure of big names like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Croatia will likely be looking to Uruguay’s 3-0 win over Russia in the group stage for clues about how to get the better of the hosts. Russia switched to a five-man defensive line to beat Spain after using a four-man defense in the group stage. Cherchesov has not given any hints of what options he will deploy against Croatia on Saturday with left-back Yuri Zhirkov injured. Zhirkov’s injury has not left the coach with many options as he could be replaced by either Vladimir Granat, who was not at his best against Spain or Andrei Semyonov, who has not played a single game for over a year now.<doc-sep>ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images Russia face Croatia in the last quarter-final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, with the match taking place at Sochi's Fisht Stadium. Both teams were pushed to penalties in the last 16, as Russia overcame Spain, while Croatia outlasted Denmark. Another similarity is the technical quality in the midfields of both squads, with playmakers Aleksandr Golovin and Luka Modric capable of deciding the game. Date: Saturday, July 7 Time: 9 p.m. local time (7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET) TV Info: ITV1/Fox Live Stream: ITV Hub, Fox Soccer MatchPass, fuboTV. Croatia are at full strength, with no injuries or suspensions, according to Tom Doyle of the London Evening Standard. The same source also noted how Russia's Yuri Zhirkov is a doubt, while fellow winger Aleksandr Samedov "trained alone." Having key stars available is great news for a Croatia squad yet to lose in this World Cup. It means Modric will be available to exchange passes with the likes of Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic. Martin Meissner/Associated Press This gifted trio should look to supply Ivan Perisic, a roving forward with a varied range of movement and coolness in front of goal. Perisic will be key because the Blazers lack a prolific marksman through the middle, although 32-year-old Mario Mandzukic scored against Denmark. Video Play Button Videos you might like The hosts may struggle to see much of the ball but will be anxious to get Golovin and Denis Cheryshev in possession. They have been the leading lights for Stanislav Cherchesov's squad, with Cheryshev finding the net three times, while Golovin's technique and vision have regularly unlocked defences. Quick rotations in midfield as well as swift movement on the break have defined Russia's performances. Even so, soaking up pressure against a Croatia team so adept at creating chances will be a risk. TF-Images/Getty Images If Modric and Co. are given too much time and space, their winning run will continue and the home nation will be out.<doc-sep>Russia and Croatia have both emerged as dark horses during this summer's World Cup and will be looking to book a place in the semi-final Rakitic buries it into the bottom-left corner as Akinfeev goes the wrong way and Croatia are through to the last four in a World Cup for the first time since 1998! Their players wheel away in celebration; Zlatko Dalic is hoisted by his assistant on the touchline. Russia drop to their knees. Mario Fernandes looks distraught. Luka Modric looks to be floating on clouds. What drama. It was not a vintage encounter by any stretch - but what absolute drama. Full-time at Sochi, it finishes Russia 2 (3) - (2 (4) Croatia. RAKITIC SCORES! 3-4! CROATIA ARE THROUGH TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE 2018 WORLD CUP! KUZYAEV SCORES! 3-3. The next to win it for Croatia. VIDA SCORES! He sticks it to the left with a rocket shot. 2-3. Russia must score to stay in this. IGNASHEVICH SCORES! He blasts it into the bottom-left corner. 2-2. MODRIC SCORES! Akinfeev gets a hand to it - and it deflects in off the crossbar! So cruel. 1-2. FERNANDES MISSES! The man who gave Russia hope pushes his shot wide of the left post. 1-1. KOVACIC MISSES! Akinfeev dives left and tips it round the post. 1-1. DZAGOEV SCORES! He casually rolls it into the bottom-right corner as Subasic goes the wrong way. 1-1. BROZOVIC SCORES! Akinfeev goes to his left but the Croatian man puts it at a good height to beat him. 0-1. SMOLOV MISSES! Subasic goes the right way and almost leaps off the line to save it. A poor penalty. Russia will go first and Fedor Smolov will be the man to take, against Subasic. This will be a major test for both teams and their goalkeepers, Igor Akinfeev and Danijel Subasic - especially the latter who, though seemingly recovered, did have a late injury in regular time. For the fourth time in this World Cup, for the second time involving these two teams and for the first time in the quarter-finals, we are heading to penalties. Mario Fernandes' late header proved to be enough for Russia to claw their way back - and now the hopes of both nations rests on a second shoot-out in as many games. After extra-time, it's Russia 2-2 Croatia. END OF EXTRA-TIME: RUSSIA 2-2 CROATIA 120 Mins: One added minute - and Brozovic is slipped a perfect ball into the Croatian box that he ignores! Every single player looks out on their feet as both sets of players stumble around. 119 Mins: Zobnin! He fires a low shot towards the bottom-left corner from 25 yards out and Subasic makes another wonderful stop to deny him. Mere seconds remain. 117 Mins: Is there one more twist in this game or are we headed for penalties in the quarter-finals? 115 Mins: AND THEY GET IT THROUGH FERNANDES! RUSSIA EQUALISE! 2-2! The boy from Brazil - representing the host nation thanks to a presidential decree - nods home Dzagoev's free-kick with a great glancing header to tuck it into the bottom-left corner. What a goal; what a game we have on our hands. 114 Mins: Pivaric concedes a handball on the edge of the Russia box! On the right corner, the Croatian man clearly handles it in front of the referee and the free-kick is awarded. The hosts desperately need their equaliser here. 113 Mins: Subasic again with the save! He stops a Smolov cross from flying across the face of his box, tightly turned in from the left. This is some feat from the keeper who is looking in more discomfort by the minute. 111 Mins: Kuzyaev! A half-volley second effort from a corner pushes Subasic to the ground - but the keeper grimly holds on. That could be Russia's last chance, given their lack of forward intent. 109 Mins: Gazinskiy cuts down Mandzukic on halfway and is booked for his foul. When the Croatian man stays down, boos ring around Fisht Olympic Stadium in response. 108 Mins: Zobnin and Rebic engage in a foot-race for the ball on the Russian left-wing; the former goes down and gets the free-kick in his own half. 106 Mins: Here we go then; is this Russia's final quarter-hour at their own World Cup? Sochi awaits a vital fifteen minutes of football as Croatia look to hold on. Domagoj Vida's header is the difference between the two sides after 15 minutes of extra-time and, having never been ahead in this game, Croatia are suddenly in the driving seat for a first World Cup semi-final since 1998. Danijel Subasic is still not fully fit in goal for them though; will the hosts be able to exploit his weakness and score an equaliser? Time is running out; at half-time in extra-time, it's Russia 1-2 Croatia. HALF-TIME IN EXTRA-TIME: RUSSIA 1-2 CROATIA 105 Mins: Two added minutes in this first period of extra-time. 104 Mins: Back-to-back corners for Russia yield no luck, though Kuzyaev goes close with a header. The host nation's dream looks to be fading, if Croatia can just hold on. 102 Mins: Russia's response is to bring on Alan Dzagoev for Golovin; they have less than 20 minutes to turn this around. 102 Mins: Vida is belatedly booked for his celebration after he removed his shirt too. 100 Mins: VIDA GIVES CROATIA THE LEAD! From a corner Croatia didn't need after Kutepov blasted a safe cross out of his own keeper's hands, it is the Besiktas man who gives his side the advantage for the first time in this game with a well-directed header that flies in at the bottom-right corner. Russia are stunned - they trail after 100 minutes. 99 Mins: Smolov goes down in the Croatian box! No penalty is forthcoming on the back of a Russian break and replays show that the forward went down cheaply against Lovren. 97 Mins: The change is in - and Vrsaljko has not recovered from his injury. Vedran Corluka is the man who arrives to bolster Croatia's defence, meaning Subasic will have to stay out there until the end - and that very well may include a penalty shoot-out. 96 Mins: Now Mandzukic is hobbling in midfield as Russia swarm forward again through Smolov to no avail. Croatia are walking wounded right now, it seems. 94 Mins: Croatia appeared poised to make a change to repalce Vrsaljko, with the right-back having pulled up with a leg problem - yet they instead hold off, playing with 10 men as he gets treatment in the technical area. If Subasic isn't fully fit, it will be a massive risk to leave him on. 92 Mins: The sides are playing in the directions they did in the first half, and Russia are making the earlier moves with intent. They press down the right wing before conceding the throw-in as Croatia prepare for a change. 91 Mins: We're underway in extra-time in Sochi, with Russia earning an early corner that they can't create a decent chance from. Subasic remains on for Croatia and looks to be a little more limber. Are Croatia going to be forced into an early fourth change? Danijel Subasic's late injury saw the keeper down for a prolonged period of time; Zlatko Dalic may need to switch him out for either Dominik Livakovic or Lovre Kalinic. It's going to be the long way round to Moscow for one of these two sides; we're headed to extra-time in Sochi! Both teams had chances to snatch a winner - mostly Croatia, with Ivan Perisic hitting the left post and getting a freak deflection in return. Otherwise, it was a less-than-stellar half of football - and they'll have 30 more minutes to seperate themselves before a potential penalty shoot-out. At the end of regular time at Fisht Olympic Stadium, it's Russia 1 Croatia 1. FULL-TIME: RUSSIA 1-1 CROATIA 90+4 Mins: Smolov breaks and tears down the right wing, before cutting close inside the edge of the box and firing at Subasic. It's a powerful shot that the keeper stops but it topples him and Lovren has to blast it away.<doc-sep>
World Cup hosts Russia say pressure will be replaced by pleasure and national pride as they bid to sweep past Croatia and into the last four on Saturday. The team, who came into the tournament as the lowest-ranked team, have defied their fans' expectations by reaching the quarter-finals. They have quickly been embraced as national heroes, with the mayor of Moscow responding by making additional public viewing space available in the city before the match in Sochi's Fisht Stadium. "Now there is not so much pressure," midfielder Aleksandr Samedov told reporters. "Compared to before the tournament and the pressure we felt back then - it was much harder. "Now we are in quarter-finals and we just want to bring pleasure to the supporters and to get further and we do not feel the pressure as we did before the tournament." Accolades have included a bison being named after Russia's top striker Artem Dzyuba and a new-born eagle after goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who saved two penalties against 2010 World Cup winners Spain in the previous round. Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov knows that most of the 48,000-strong crowd will be supporting the home side but the moustachioed former goalkeeper has shown little interest in participating in the national outpouring of emotion. "Emotions are simple. You show them when you direct the team. Now I am thinking only about the next game. These are not very sophisticated emotions," he said. Cherchesov has several issues to resolve, with his midfield the biggest worry. Alan Dzagoev has recovered from a hamstring injury but is still unable to take a full part in training while Samedov sat on the sidelines on Tuesday with an unspecified fitness problem. Fellow midfielder Yuri Zhirkov has been ruled out injured and is unlikely to feature again, unless the hosts make it to the final in Moscow on July 15, according to Cherchesov. The midfield is seen as a key battleground on Saturday, with Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric regarded as one of the best exponents in the world. Stopping Modric's deliveries to a world-class attack that includes Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, Marko Pjaca, Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric will be crucial for the Russians. They will have to attack Modric earlier than they managed to do against Spain's playmakers and will probably play a far more expansive game than last Sunday. Croatia, on the other hand, will look to shake a 20-year old shadow. Twenty years ago, Croatia made its World Cup debut with a result that happened only once previously in the tournament's history and has never been topped. Finishing in third place the first time it participated in soccer's biggest showcase set a lofty standard. The Croatians' memorable run to the semifinals in 1998 remains a moment of pride for the country. It also created a shadow every successive Croatia team has been forced to deal with and has not come close to matching. Until now. Croatia can equal what that 1998 team did if it beats Russia on Saturday in the quarterfinals and perhaps finally rid itself of that 20-year shadow. The current squad of stars such as Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic will be held in the same esteem as the stars of '98 such as Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban and Slaven Bilic with one more victory. Or if they can't get past the home team, they will be the latest Croatia team to fall short. Head to head Russia and Croatia have never faced off in a World Cup. They have played three times, with Russia yet to record a win. Two matches were goalless draws, with Croatia beating Russia 3-1 in a friendly in November, 2015 - their last meeting. Probable Starting XI Russia XI: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Kutepov, Ignashevich, Kudryashov, Zobnin, Kuzyaev, Samedov, Golovin, Cheryshev, Dzyuba Croatia XI: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Brozovic, Rebic, Modric, Perisic. Mandzukic Match Prediction Russia have had dream run in the tournament so far. Croatia on the other hand have been one of the most clinical sides. It seems the hosts' time to exit the party has come. 2-1 for Croatia. (With Agencies inputs)