Iceland V Croatia World Cup 2018

Iceland V Croatia

(Synopsis in red)

Beers: Group D of Beer World Cup:

World Cup of Beer Group D

Einstock from Iceland goes up against Bura Brew, an interesting craft brewery from Croatia, making its first appearance in this years beer world cup. Einstock need to get a victory to stay in the competition, while Bura can get the victory to propel Croatia into the last 16 today.

Tough one, Einstock tasted nice, hoppy and full of interesting flavours while Bura Brew was lovely to sip at and enjoyable to relax with. Will go with a score draw, one a piece.

PreGame:

Croatia knew exactly how to exploit the narrow shape of Argentina in their last game, by pining it along the wings and spraying it left to right and vice a versa. It also helped that the, Argentinean goalkeeper, Caballero, his brain went away without leave, gifting Rebic a free strike, which he took superbly. After that Argentina were always playing catch up. Croatia had so many more chances, and sure enough another goal came for Croatia, and what a goal it was. Modric creating space for himself to curl a lovely ball into the corner of the net, top class stuff. Rakitic, who had a good game overall, apart from his playacting, then hit the post, but got another chance to get on the score sheet, minutes later, when he had an easy conversion from a square ball to simply place it into the net. Argentina were dead and buried, from Croatia with love, thank you very much, 3-0.

Croatia, job done after two games, well done, and they are a good footballing team too that might sneak into the last four.

In their last game, Iceland had nothing to match Nigeria’s desire and heart, Nigeria used their pace and tenacity to beat them off the park. In effect Nigeria did an Iceland on Iceland, attacking with great pace on the break, and using long balls (on the wing) to get on the break and counter attack.

Nigeria can be very disjointed at times, and terrible to watch on occasion, but when they click boy do they click. Its really all about confidence. They absolutely took apart Iceland. Moses was opening up the space on the wing and doing so much running at the Icelandic defence, that he had a huge effect on the game. Then you got Musa, who did very little in the first half, but was extraordinary in the second. Two absolutely brilliant goals, one taken from a quick break, again on the counter, he flicked it up and banged in into the bag of the net, every schoolboys dream, brilliant. The other, running with amazing speed, beating the defence and the goalie at will, back of the net. Brilliant. Iceland were ran ragged.

Iceland were found out, they really are just long ball merchants with average players and I wonder if Croatia give them a game they might crumble.

A more detailed review on Iceland here and on Croatia here

Looked at the first half of this game:

Could feel the tension in the game, Iceland needed a win to get to the last 16, so they started the game with a lot of tempo, knowing they had a small chance what with Croatia making 8 changes to their first team, albeit they still had the magician Modric on the field.

Even with those changes Croatia still looked very strong, still pinging it around the pitch and still getting chances. Iceland, themselves, came more into it, constantly lobbing long balls into the box, from frees, throws or corners, it was aerial bombardment at a serious scale.

Finnbogason went very close, just hitting a shot wide, while they also missed a flick on at the far post that beat everyone. Gunnarsson also had L Kalinic pull off a good save to keep it nil nil up to half time. Basically it was all Iceland in the last 20 minutes of the first half, and I really could not see how they would not win in the second half. Well I was wrong as they lost the second half two – one, which goes to show you how strong this Croatia team is that there second team are equally as good in disposing of tough opposition.

Iceland go home in their first World Cup, no shame, played as well as they could for a rather limited team. They will be back again, since they have got a real taste for this level of football. Croatia, on the other hand, go on to meet a very poor Denmark team. I have no doubt they should dispatch of the Danes with little problem.

Music to get you in the mood

Samaris – Góða tungl (Iceland) V Vesna Pisarović – Da znaš (Croatia)