ZAGREB, Nov. 9 -- The Croatian national football team made a big step toward the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, beating Greece 4-1 in the first leg of the European playoffs played on Thursday night in front of over 30,000 fans at the Maksimir stadium in Zagreb.
The strong Greek defense, that had been singled out as the main quality of the visiting team before the match, fell apart after just 30 minutes of play. Croatian pressure was too hard for the Greeks to sustain and forced them into mistakes. In the 13th minute, Greek goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis made a mistake receiving the ball and fouled Nikola Kalinic in the penalty area. Croatian captain Luka Modric scored his first goal in this qualifying campaign as his shot from the penalty spot found the net, sending the Greek keeper the wrong way.
Croatia need just six more minutes to score for the second time. Ivan Strinic broke on the left and returned the ball into the middle where Inter Milan striker Nikola Kalinic was faster than Greek defenders and put the ball into the net with a clever heel shot.
In the 30th minute, Greek captain Papastathopoulos beat Croatian defenders in the air and his header was out of reach for home goalkeeper Daniel Subasic.
But the Greek celebration didn't last for long. Just three minutes later, Croatia again reached a two goal advantage. This time, the deadly cross came from the right side off the foot of Sime Vrsaljko. Ivan Perisic met the ball on the far post and easily put the header into the net from close range. The Inter Milan forward scored his first goal in over a year for the national team, and he could harldy have chosen a better time for it.
Another mistake that the Greek defense made under pressure came from a Croatian team effort that led to the fourth goal from the home team. In the 49th minute, Sime Vrsaljko sneaked behind the back of Kostas Stafylidis and beat the Greek goalkeeper to the ball, flicked it to Andrej Kramaric and the Hoffenheim striker scored his third goal in the last two matches since Zlatko Dalic took over as an interim national head coach.
"It was a great display from our side but this is just the first half. We don't need euphoria. We will travel to Greece and prepare like the result in Zagreb was 0-0," Croatian head coach Zlatko Dalic said.
Real Madrid star Luka Modric was master of the show.
"The whole team played great. It was a great display but we just did the first half of the job. We will need to play just as good in Greece as we did tonight. It would be a tragedy to let this chance go," Modric said after the match.
Greece will host the Croatians at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on Sunday.
北师大版英语七下《Unit 2 On the Weekend》mp3听力原文
北师大版七年级下《Unit 8 lesson 32 what is she wearing》
北师大版英语七下《Unit 9 People》(Lesson 33)ppt课件(1)
2015春北师大版英语七下Unit 1《Lesson 1 After School》ppt第2课时教学课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 4 Seasons and Weather》mp3听力原文
北师大版英语七下《Unit 10 In the Past》(lesson38)ppt课件
2015春北师大版英语七下Unit 1《Lesson 2 A Dangerous Job》ppt课件
2016春北师大版英语八下Unit 6《Lesson 18 The Mystery Writer》(第2课时)ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 8 Seasons and Clothes》(Lesson 29)ppt课件(5)
北师大版英语七下《Unit 11 Vacations》(Lesson 44)ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 9 People》(Lesson 36)ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 9 People》(Lesson 35)ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Lesson 8 At a Restaurant》ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Lesson 5 Talking to Friends》ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 8 Seasons and Clothes》(Lesson 32)ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 5 Now and Then》mp3听力原文
北师大版七年级英语下学期 unit 20 sports
北师大版英语七下《Unit 9 People》ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 9 People》(Lesson 33)ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 8 Seasons and Clothes》(Lesson 32)ppt课件(2)
北师大版英语七下《Lesson 2 A Dangerous Job》ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 8 Seasons and Clothes》(Lesson 29)ppt课件(3)
北师大版英语七下《Lesson 4 Helping at Home》ppt课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 12 China》(Lesson 45)ppt课件(1)
北师大版英语七下《Unit 8 Seasons and Clothes》(Lesson 32)ppt课件(1)
北师大版英语七下《Unit 1 Daily Life》mp3听力原文
北师大版英语七下《Unit 12 China》(Lesson 45)ppt课件(2)
北师大版英语七下《Unit 1-5》ppt单元复习课件
2015春北师大版英语七下Unit 1《Lesson 1 After School》ppt第1课时教学课件
北师大版英语七下《Unit 3 Food and Drink》mp3听力原文
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |