Ivan Rakitic stepped up to the plate to take his nation to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, slotting his penalty with conviction, in a shootout that saw 5 penalties saved.
The game had started with two quick goals and it felt like we were in a for a goal fest. However, no clear cut chances were created for the next 118 minutes and the game was forced to a penalty shootout.
Modric did have an opportunity to win it for Croatia during the 2nd half of extra time, but the Real Madrid man missed his penalty, and it seemed like Schmeichel would carry this confidence into the shootout and take Denmark to an unlikely quarter-final.
And that is almost what transpired in the shootout, as Schmeichel did make a couple of saves, but the Croatian goalkeeper just proved a tad bit better, as he saved 3 to end what was probably the most entertaining shootout in World Cup history.
Croatia will not go onto fact the hosts Russia in a mouth watering quarter final in Sochi on Saturday.
This is how Twitter reacted:
In the Abu Dhabi airport lounge. 25 people, from various countries, around a computer screen cheering this penalty shoot out. Friends for a moment, till we all disperse. Gotta love it.
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) July 1, 2018
How can you not love a penalty shoot out?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 1, 2018
Massive credit to Danijel Subašić and Kasper Schmeichel. That is immense goalkeeping. Amazing drama. I just love this World Cup.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) July 1, 2018
that #CRODEN penalty shootout pic.twitter.com/ALn6A54o3Y
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) July 1, 2018
Pure drama.
Despite Kasper Schmeichel's heroics for #DEN & Mathias Zanka becoming Huddersfield's first ever #WorldCup scorer, it's Dejan Lovren's #CRO who go through, winning 3-2 on penalties!#CRODEN #PL pic.twitter.com/elmkI4wzll
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 1, 2018
This match had suspense than most movies #CRODEN pic.twitter.com/9BdI1iuTuw
— Teiko (@thefanchoco_) July 1, 2018
Why didn't they just start with the penalty shootout, save us the rest of the evening? #CRODEN #WorldCup
— SCHOLES (@iamscholes) July 1, 2018
#CRODEN Those Penalties got me like pic.twitter.com/FuIiHwJtDQ
— Lily Pearls🌹🌷🌹 (@sebati_trudy) July 1, 2018
Oh yeah! #CRODEN pic.twitter.com/gbhYT0z6KZ
— Vladimir Peric (@VIPerich) July 1, 2018
All the negativity surrounding this World Cup in Russia before the start and its turning out to be one of the best in history. Just goes to show do not trust main stream media #Russia2018 #WorldCup #CRODEN
— AB3030 (@aba303030) July 1, 2018
The game wasn't interesting but the penalties were Indeed really full of drama.. I'm proud of Schemeichel what a keeper…#WorldCup #CRODEN
👇👇👇👇LEGEND 👇GOAT👇👇 pic.twitter.com/fhpQgy3ALR
— Saint M.J (@Mpho_Blackstone) July 1, 2018
Slaven Bilic has just rinsed Martin O’Neill on how Croatia have better footballers than Ireland! Ooof. Have that! #CRODEN
— Ed Le Brun (@Tallbrun) July 1, 2018
Kasper Schmeichel deserved to win that. Can’t say the same about his teammates though. #CRODEN
— Mattias Karén (@MattiasKaren) July 1, 2018
Poor ol' Schmeichel. Poor Danes. After all that. What a performance. What an end to a World Cup knock-out game.#CRODEN
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 1, 2018
Lucky for Modric Croatia won their penalty kicks, twitter experts would be calling him overrated for missing that penalty
— Yassine 🇲🇦 (@SwishFutbol) July 1, 2018
Modric, Rakitic, Kovacic, Mandzukic, Brozovic… Special players. I really hope they win the World Cup.
— hash (@hashim0307) July 1, 2018
