Printable version of thread

Posted by: Mack. 30th June 2018, 09:43 PM

The fourth game of the second round sees Group D winners Croatia take on Group C runner-up Denmark. Both sides will be trying to reach their first quarterfinal in 20 years.

The game is live on ITV Please use this thread for speculation, pre and post match chat on the Croatia v Denmark game.


How do you see this going?

Posted by: Steve201 1st July 2018, 02:21 AM

Croatia win please!

Posted by: Rooney 1st July 2018, 09:55 AM

I fancy a Croatia win as they have been really good so far, but this Denmark team are no mugs. I could see a low score draw here and this battled out in extra-time.

Posted by: Dobbo 1st July 2018, 10:11 AM

Of all the last 16 matches this is the one I'm most confident about picking a winner for - Croatia have been immense this tournament & Denmark have done just enough to keep their heads above the water. I honestly have no idea why they didn't try & beat France in the last group game as they were ensured of progressing due to Australia losing and it wouldn't have mattered one jot if they'd lost against France anyway.

Posted by: Rooney 1st July 2018, 10:46 AM

That is some confidence! Personally while Croatia have been impressive, they have a habit of bombing out in the knockout rounds whilst the Danes are unbeaten since 2016. I still think Croatia will win, but not the whitewash people are expecting. They are heavy favourites (would not back them at the price they are at) and I think Denmark are a little bit overpriced.

Posted by: Dobbo 1st July 2018, 11:08 AM

Yeah between this match & Brazil/Mexico I suppose. Croatia do have a poor recent knockout streak but they're often overlooked as serious contenders despite having lots of quality!

Posted by: Evil Houdini 1st July 2018, 06:01 PM

Goal already for Denmark

Posted by: Mack. 1st July 2018, 06:05 PM

And Croatia strike level.

Posted by: Mart!n 1st July 2018, 06:06 PM

Wow, this is going to be a goal fest of a match.

Posted by: Mack. 1st July 2018, 07:31 PM

Looking now like this going to extra time.

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 1st July 2018, 07:50 PM

85 minutes later...

Posted by: Rooney 1st July 2018, 07:57 PM

Dear Lord that was dull. I think a Russia vs Denmark quarter final would be like sticking pins in my eyes.

Posted by: Mart!n 1st July 2018, 08:00 PM

I know, I know

Posted by: Evil Houdini 1st July 2018, 08:04 PM

Hahahaha. You know both teams would just play for penalties from minute one

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 1st July 2018, 08:11 PM

Croatia haven't been amazing here, I think Russia have a chance of winning against either of these teams.

Posted by: The Snake 1st July 2018, 08:12 PM

I really want Denmark to win this one, they have played better than Croatia I think in the match and I think they have had more chances, the problem is they can't really seem to capitalise on them and score.

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 1st July 2018, 08:27 PM

Penalty saved That was going in had Modric not been fouled.

Posted by: Suedehead2 1st July 2018, 08:28 PM

Has the law about the goalkeeper not coming off his line been abolished? There was no need for VAR to see that Schmeichel was way off his line there.

Posted by: The Snake 1st July 2018, 08:31 PM

It would have been a shame though if it would have went in considering Denmark have outplayed Croatia throughout most of the match!

Having said that, I would say Croatia, who have more goalscorers than Denmark, would have an advantage against Denmark in penalties so I am expecting them to win anyway.

Posted by: Evil Houdini 1st July 2018, 08:33 PM

2 Penalty Shoot Outs in one day. We're getting spoiled today!

Posted by: The Snake 1st July 2018, 08:40 PM

Both sides missed their first penalty

Posted by: Mack. 1st July 2018, 08:43 PM

Has that chance gone for Demmark?

Posted by: Mack. 1st July 2018, 08:46 PM

Match point Croatia

Posted by: Mack. 1st July 2018, 08:46 PM

And through to the quarters go Croatia where they play Russia.

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 1st July 2018, 08:47 PM

Croatia go through, but they really didn't look great today. Let's hope they can get their act together for Russia.

Posted by: Brett-Butler 1st July 2018, 08:47 PM

Yay, my work sweepstake team are still in with a shot!

Posted by: The Snake 1st July 2018, 08:48 PM

Wanted Denmark to win as they played better in the match.

Posted by: Iz 1st July 2018, 08:49 PM

Croatia got a bit lucky there but I'm pleased for them, they've played better throughout the tournament.

I do love a good penalty shootout though, that was wonderful.

Posted by: Suedehead2 1st July 2018, 08:51 PM

But it wasn't good. The goalkeeper was comfortably off his line for every save. What is the point of having that rule if blatant breaches of it are ignored? None of them needed VAR - they could all be spotted in real time.

Posted by: Jade 1st July 2018, 08:52 PM

My sweepstake chances just about live on *.* glad that Croatia edged it after the disappointment of Spain losing earlier.

Posted by: Chez Wombat 1st July 2018, 08:52 PM

A shame we have to sit through two hours of boredom for it

VERY close shave for Croatia there, especially with Modric's miss in ET, but I'm glad they live to fight another day as they could still potentially challenge Russia to make it a decent game.

Posted by: Suedehead2 1st July 2018, 08:58 PM

It has to be said that the 60minutes of extra-time today was about as boring as extra-time was in the days of the golden goal. Perhaps the shoot-out should take place before extra-time. At least then at least one team would always have an incentive to score.

Posted by: Bré 1st July 2018, 08:58 PM

Definitely a disappointment from Croatia after the group stages but thrilled for them getting through, especially as they would have got the second goal if not for that foul near the end of extra time!

Missed the first ~7 minutes of the match, typical that there would be 2 early goals then nothing else

Posted by: Mart!n 1st July 2018, 09:03 PM

To be honest I was expecting more goals in the 90 minutes of the game after that 5 minutes start from both teams. The rest of the match was bit of a drawl to watch, Denmark were strong against them and kept them at bay. In the end, I'm glad Croatia won, as they are one of my favourites to win along with Belgium.

The Nations Cup since when...

Posted by: Evil Houdini 1st July 2018, 09:05 PM

If the shoot out took place first then extra time would be redundant. I miss the tension that the golden goal used to bring to matches that went to extra time, it was definitely a lot better than the silver goal rule anyway.



Yeah that was certainly a shame. Russia and Denmark are two teams that don't play attacking football much so I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise.

Posted by: Suedehead2 1st July 2018, 09:18 PM

No it wouldn't. The team that lost the shoot-out would then have an incentive to win in extra-time. It would be their only chance of getting through.

Posted by: Klumzee 1st July 2018, 09:21 PM

The whole point of extra time and a shootout is to find a decisive winner (or put somebody ahead of the other) - once we have a result from the shootout there really is no point in playing another 30 mins on top of 100+mins of play for nothing to change. I was too young to remember the days of the golden goal but I love the concept

Posted by: The Snake 1st July 2018, 09:22 PM

Seems like I am the only one on this thread who wanted Denmark to win, then!

Russia did play great attacking football in the first two matches.

Their third match against Uruguay where they also tried to attack lots, they got caught on the break and lost the match. Maybe that's why they went more defensive against Spain!

Posted by: Suedehead2 1st July 2018, 09:29 PM

A result in extra-time would override the shoot-out. One side would know that they have to score or they are out.

The golden goal didn't work because both sides were generally ultra-cautious.

Posted by: Dobbo 1st July 2018, 09:32 PM

Happy for Croatia in the sense that they were super unlucky to go out on pens at the last Euros so they got their time in this tourno. Didn't see the game but i really thought they'd put Denmark to the sword so surprised it went the whole distance.

As for this golden goal debate, sorry but that was an absolutely diabolical idea that was rightfully scrapped. It didn't encourage attacking football whatsoever it made teams scared shitless of the ball going anywhere near their own box in fear of conceding

Eeps the return of the dreaded edited by line!

Posted by: Evil Houdini 1st July 2018, 09:41 PM

No you're not the only one. I wanted Denmark to win as well as Croatia played as big a role in Nigeria's elimination as Argentina did. I think Croatia will make it to the final now but they should count themselves lucky and Luka Modric will be a very relieved man tonight!


Russia's first two opponents were two of the worst performing teams in the tournament though. I knew Russia would be overly defensive today against better opposition.