Croatia delight in 1998 World Cup repeat, now want more

Croatia are in the World Cup semi-finals for the second time since 1998, and now want to go a step further than the squad from 20 years ago. Sochi, Russia (dpa) - The role models didn't leave it as late as the class of 2018 for Croatia. Davor Suker and company beat Romania 1-0 in the last 16 and then mighty Germany 3-0 in the quarters 20 years ago in France.
The current team led by Luka Modric meanwhile rode its luck as it needed two penalty shoot-outs - 3-2 over Denmark and 4-3 over Russia - to emulate their heroes on Saturday. That however gives them bragging rights over the old guard as the first Croatia team to beat a World Cup host side, and the second overall at the global tournament to win back-to-back shoot-outs - emulating the 1990 Argentina team.
But the team would probably even accept another 120 minutes plus penalties on Wednesday in Moscow's Luzhniki against England - who earlier Friday clinically ousted Sweden 2-0 in 90 minutes - in order to reach the July 15 final in the same stadium. "It seems to be written in the stars that we have to play the extra drama," man-of-the-match Modric said.
Saturday's match in front of a mainly hostile crowd of 44,287 was a roller-coaster ride for Zlatko Dalic's team. Russia lead midway through the first half from a phenomenal long-range effort from Denis Cheryshev. Andrej Kramaric headed the equalizer and, after Ivan Perisic hit the post on the hour, Domagij Vida put them 2-1 up in the 101st.
Russia rallied to force a shoot-out from Mario Fernandez' header but Croatia eventually survived again, thanks to goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saved the tame effort from Fedor Smolov and Fernandes then aiming wide. Coach Zlatko Dalic cried tears of relief and joy once Ivan Rakitic had wrapped up matters under the eyes of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic who was in attendance just as in the last 16 game against Denmark.
Back home, the whole of Croatia celebrated as Dalic said: "We made made ourselves happy and everyone in Croatia. I don't cry often but this is a great cause." However, the team is not finished yet as they now aim to beat England on Wednesday in Moscow to go one step further than the 1998 side. "We took the difficult route but now we are collecting those debts. Hopefully we go another step forwards. We have all the requesites, a great team, a great coach, great backroom staff," Modric said.