Mario Fernandes goes from World Cup hero to zero as penalty miss lets Ivan Rakitic step up to send Croatia into semi-final
Both keepers pull off saves in spot-kick drama but Barcelona man puts contest to bed and stops the hosts from facing Three Lions
Brazilian-born Mario Fernandes had kept Russia’s dream alive when he headed home in the 115th minute to level the scores and force penalties, but he and Fedor Smolov both failed to convert their spot-kicks in Sochi.
Croatia, for whom Andrej Kramaric and Domagoj Vida had earlier found the net, advance to their first World Cup semi-final since 1998. They will face England, who beat Sweden 2-0 earlier, at the Luzhniki Stadium Moscow on Wednesday.
In contrast for Russia, who had taken the lead through another Denis Cheryshev wonder goal in the first half, there is only heartbreak as they finally go out.
They can however be proud of their efforts, with a run to the last eight exceeding expectations for a side written off as no-hopers before the tournament.
And it remains to be seen how quickly Croatia – whose President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic was watching from the stands in her country’s colours – can recover from this draining night, having also been taken to extra time and penalties by Denmark in the last round.
The arrival of the host nation for the final World Cup match at the Fisht Stadium meant by far the most vibrant atmosphere yet at this Black Sea beach resort.
