Croatia's national soccer team beat Denmark on Sunday in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod to reach in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, for the first time in 20 years.

After a shocking opening with one goal by each side in the opening few minutes, the rest of the match was played at a calmer pace, with both sides patiently creating chances and waiting to capitalise on their rival’s mistake, but failing to use any of them.

The game could have been decided in second half of extra time when forward Ante Rebic was brought down in the Danish box after a superb ball from captain Luka Modric. Modric stepped up to convert the penalty, but his shot was saved by kasper Schmeichel.

In a roller coaster penalty shootout that followed, Croatia prevailed 3-2, with Croatia’s goalkeeper Danijel Subasic saving shots by Christian Eriksen, Lasse Schone, and Nicolai Jorgensen.

Croatia will now face hosts Russia on July 7 in Sochi, who had knocked out favourites Spain in a penalty shootout earlier on Sunday after their round of 16 match also ended in a 1-1 draw.

Croatians are hoping to equal their greatest success in footballing history, reaching the semi-finals in 1998, where they were knocked out by hosts and later champions France, eventually winning third place against the Netherlands in their debut appearance on football’s greatest stage.

In their following three appearances in 2002, 2006, and 2014, Croatia had failed to progress past the group stage.

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