MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on Saturday at the World Cup (all times local): 1:35 p.m. Croatian fans in Sochi have been delighted with…
MOSCOW (AP) — The Latest on Saturday at the World Cup (all times local):
1:35 p.m.
Croatian fans in Sochi have been delighted with their team’s World Cup quarterfinal win over Russia and even Russians have been excited by the game.
Iva Majoli of Zagreb says «It was amazing, of course. It was an amazing atmosphere for Russia and very difficult for Croatia when the whole stadium is against you.»
Croatia won 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the quarterfinal was tied 1-1 after regulation and 2-2 after extra time.
Russian Denis Vasilyev says «This was the best match I’ve seen in my entire life, but Croatia was a bit stronger.»
And Maria Karlova, from Sevastopol in Russia-annexed Crimea, said it was a powerful «unreal» match.
Russia was the lowest-ranked team going into the tournament and its advance into the quarterfinals surprised many.
Maxim Bokov, who watched the match in a Moscow bar, tried to take the loss in stride.
«We were a little unlucky. Just a little bit,» he said. «But for our national team it’s a big achievement.»
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1:25 a.m.
An assistant referee who resigned from World Cup duty in Russia after being caught in a sting operation taking a cash payment has been banned for life from African soccer.
The Confederation for African Football (CAF) announced a life ban from for Aden Range Marwa of Kenya one month after he gave his resignation to FIFA.
FIFA is also investigating Marwa after he was filmed taking a $600 payment in a Ghanaian journalist’s documentary.
Evidence gathered for the program also forced the resignation of Ghana’s soccer president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, from his elected positions as a CAF vice-president and FIFA Council member.
CAF has also announced bans of between two and 10 years for 10 more referees and assistants from countries including Ghana, Ivory Coast and Niger.
A further 10 officials from Ghana and one from Liberia have been suspended pending CAF disciplinary hearings in August.
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1:05 a.m.
The spokesman for Vladimir Putin says the Russian president regards the national soccer team as heroes despite their loss to Croatia in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Putin «watched; he hurt. Our team lost in an honest, beautiful game. But to us they are fine fellows — heroes,» Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
«They died on the field,» he said. «We are proud of them.»
The quarterfinal was tied 1-1 after regulation and 2-2 after extra time before Croatia won 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
The Russian team’s head coach Stanislav Cherchesov says Putin called before and after the game to rally the squad.
Cherchesov says «He congratulated us on a very good game. He said what we showed on the field was great.»
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11:55 p.m.
Croatia has beaten host Russia 4-3 in a penalty shootout to advance to a World Cup semifinal against England.
The quarterfinal at Sochi was tied 1-1 after regulation and 2-2 after extra time, forcing both Croatia and host Russia to a shootout for the second consecutive game.
Ivan Rakitic scored the winner from the spot as Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev dived the opposite direction. Akinfeev made on save during the shootout and nearly had another on Luka Modric, but the shot deflected off Akinfeev’s hand, off the post and into the net.
Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic made one save in the shootout, blocking Fedor Smolov’s attempt. He also watched Mario Fernandes shot miss the goal wide left in the third round.
Fernandes had been a hero for Russia earlier when his header in the 115th minute equalized and sent the match to penalties after Domagoj Vida’s goal in the 101st had given Croatia a 2-1 lead.
Croatia is the first team to win consecutive penalty shootouts since Argentina in 1990 and it’s the first time the host country has lost in a shootout since Italy in the same year.
Croatia is in World Cup semifinals for the second time and first since 1998. The Croatians lost to France in the semis 20 years ago.
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11:37 p.m.
Russia and Croatia are level at 2-2 after extra time and are going to a penalty shootout in the World Cup quarterfinal.
Russia equalized in the 115th minute when Mario Fernandes headed in a free kick from just outside the area after a handball was called against Croatia’s Josip Pivaric. Alan Dzagoev chipped the free kick toward goal and Fernandes was unmarked.
Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, already hobbled with a leg injury, could do nothing but watch it hit the net.
Domagoj Vida gave Croatia the lead with his header off a corner kick in the 101st minute.
The teams were tied 1-1 after regulation time.
It’s the second straight match for both teams that has gone to a penalty shootout. Russia beat Spain 4-3 and Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties in the round of 16.
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11:20 p.m.
Domagoj Vida has given injury-riddled Croatia a 2-1 lead in extra time with a header off a corner kick in the World Cup quarterfinal against Russia.
Vida came unmarked in the middle of the penalty area and his header managed to bounce through traffic and roll into the net to give the Croatians the advantage in the 101st minute.
Injuries have become a concern for Croatia. Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic went into extra time with an apparent right leg injury he picked up in the 89th minute. And defender Sime Vrsaljko has been replaced in extra time after going down away from the action and pointing at his left knee. He was replaced by Vedran Corluka, the team’s fourth substitution, meaning Croatia can’t sub Subasic if the match goes to penalties.
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10:55 p.m.
Russia and Croatia are going to extra time tied at 1-1 after a scoreless second half in the World Cup quarterfinal.
The Croatians have a major concern over goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, who went down in the 89th minute grabbing at the back of his right leg after sliding to keep a deflection from going out. He was in immediate distress and received treatment for several minutes.
The injury came moments after Croatia used its final substitution in regulation time. Subasic remained in the game and made a reaction save swatting away Fedor Smolov’s shot during stoppage time.
It’s the second straight match for both teams to go to extra time. Each won its round of 16 matchups on penalties, with Russia beating Spain and Croatia outlasting Denmark.
Russia took the lead on Denis Cheryshev’s goal in the 31st minute, only to see Croatia answer in the 39th minute when Andrej Kramaric’s header beat Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
It was a mostly lackluster second half where Croatia dominated possession but failed to convert its chances at goal. The best scoring opportunity for either side came in the 60th minute when Ivan Perisic’s shot to an open net hit the inside of the far post, but instead of deflecting in, rolled along the goal line and stayed out of the net.
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9:47 p.m.
Russia has taken a 1-0 lead on favored Croatia on a stunning strike from Denis Cheryshev in the 31st minute, only to see Croatia come right back to equalize and leave things tied at the half.
A first half the teams mostly spent cautiously testing each other was given a jolt of energy when Cheryshev completed a one-two with Artem Dzyuba just outside the area. Cheryshev eluded Luke Modric and looped a left-footed strike that dropped into the upper corner of the net and left Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic standing still.
Russia’s lead didn’t last long as Croatia equalized in the 39th when Mario Mandzukic ran free down the left flank and was given time to pick out Andrej Kramaric making a run through the box. Kramaric, who was inserted into the lineup to add more to Croatia’s attack, was able to get his head on the pass and direct it past Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev to pull even at 1-1.
The winner of the match in Sochi will play England in the semifinals.
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9:06 p.m.
Qatari organizers of the 2022 World Cup say they are open to talks about a 48-team tournament, and can see a format to host it alone.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s wish to add 16 extra teams in 2022 was seen as pushing Qatar toward letting neighboring states into a co-hosting plan.
In Moscow last month, pressure on Qatar was eased when the Infantino-chaired FIFA Council agreed the host nation’s consent was a «precondition» for change.
A senior Qatari official said Saturday that a 48-team tournament could be staged using just the eight stadiums in and around Doha.
Nasser Al Khater, the assistant secretary general for tournament affairs, told reporters: «Yes, it’s doable. If the format is done right, it could actually be an edition that is exciting.»
One option stands out: A playoff round involving 32 nations that would send 16 winners to join 16 seeded teams in a traditional group stage.
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8:15 p.m.
FIFA says almost 2,000 seats were empty in Samara for England’s 2-0 win over Sweden in the World Cup quarterfinals.
The crowd of 39,991 fell short of the 41,970 capacity and organizers are saying the main reason was unsold tickets.
FIFA notes that fans from England and Sweden bought fewer ticket plans that guarantee seats at each of their team’s games in Russia.
Fans from Germany and Colombia ranked third and fourth in FIFA’s table of international ticket sales, and both those teams had a potential path through the tournament bracket to play in Samara on Saturday.
Fans with tickets for games that no longer involve their team can offer them for resale through FIFA.
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8:05 p.m.
Croatia has made one change to its lineup for the World Cup quarterfinals against Russia, bringing in forward Andrej Kramaric to replace midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
