Match ends, Iceland 0, Croatia 0.
IcelandIceland0CroatiaCroatia0
Ten-man Iceland drew against Croatia in the first leg of their play-off to keep alive their hopes of becoming the smallest nation to reach a World Cup.
The home side twice went close, with Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Alfred Finnbogason wasting good opportunities.
Midfielder Ivan Perisic had the best chance for Croatia when he fired a shot narrowly wide late in the game.
By that stage, Iceland had been reduced to 10 men when Olafur Skulason was shown red after he had impeded Perisic.
That was the second blow suffered by Lars Lagerback's side, who prior to the break were weakened when Ajax striker Sigthorsson came off injured.
"The players did a fantastic job but the referee [Alberto Undiano] didn't have his best day," Lagerback told Icelandic television. "I'm not satisfied.
"Someone watched the replay on TV and they said it [the red card] was very, very questionable, but it wasn't just that. In many situations the referee didn't know if he should blow or not.
"To defend for almost 45 minutes with one less man on the pitch - I can't describe in words what these players have done."
The second leg takes place in Zagreb on Tuesday which will determine who goes through to the World Cup finals in Brazil in June.
Line-ups
Iceland
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Halldórsson
- 16OI SkúlasonBooked at 50mins
- 23AF Skúlason
- 17Gunnarsson
- 14Arnason
- 6R Sigurdsson
- 7Gudmundsson
- 10G Sigurdsson
- 9SigthorssonSubstituted forGudjohnsenat 45'minutes
- 11FinnbogasonSubstituted forGislasonat 64'minutes
- 8Bjarnason
Substitutes
- 1Gunnleifsson
- 2Jonsson
- 3Jónasson
- 4Jónsson
- 5Ottesen
- 13Pálsson
- 15Danielsson
- 18Smárason
- 19Gislason
- 20Bjornsson
- 21Hallfredsson
- 22Gudjohnsen
Croatia
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pletikosa
- 11Srna
- 21Pranjic
- 10Modric
- 5Corluka
- 3Simunic
- 15IlicevicSubstituted forOlicat 45'minutes
- 7Rakitic
- 17MandzukicSubstituted forBenkoat 87'minutes
- 22da SilvaSubstituted forRebicat 72'minutes
- 4Perisic
Substitutes
- 2Vrsaljko
- 6Lovren
- 8Males
- 9Rebic
- 12L Kalinic
- 13Schildenfeld
- 14Benko
- 16Badelj
- 18Olic
- 19Kranjcar
- 20Kovacic
- 23Subasic
- Referee:
- Alberto Undiano Mallenco
Match Stats
Home TeamIcelandAway TeamCroatia
- Possession
- Home31%
- Away69%
- Shots
- Home4
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away6
- Corners
- Home3
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Iceland 0, Croatia 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luka Modric (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ante Rebic.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ante Rebic (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Croatia. Leon Benko replaces Mario Mandzukic.
Post update
Foul by Ante Rebic (Croatia).
Post update
Birkir Bjarnason (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Ivan Perisic (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mario Mandzukic with a headed pass.
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Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Eidur Gudjohnsen (Iceland).
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Foul by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
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Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Ante Rebic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Rurik Gislason (Iceland).
Post update
Corner, Iceland. Conceded by Mario Mandzukic.
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Foul by Danijel Pranjic (Croatia).
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Rurik Gislason (Iceland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt blocked. Rurik Gislason (Iceland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
Post update
Offside, Croatia. Ante Rebic tries a through ball, but Ivica Olic is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
