Match ends, Croatia 2, Iceland 0.
CroatiaCroatia2IcelandIceland0
Ten-man Croatia reached the 2014 World Cup finals with a 2-0 win over Iceland in Zagreb following a goalless first leg.
Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic scored first in the 27th minute - but was sent off for a challenge on Johann Gudmundsson just before half-time.
Shakhtar Donetsk's Darijo Srna secured the win with a low drive from inside the box early in the second half.
Iceland are still waiting to appear in their first major tournament finals.
The visitors had nearly stunned a hostile crowd early on when Croatia keeper Stipe Pletikosa parried a stinging Gylfi Sigurdsson shot, with Alfred Finnbogason well offside as he put the rebound into the net.
Iceland keeper Hannes Halldorsson kept out a swerving Srna free kick midway through the first half, but was powerless just before the half-hour mark when Mandzukic showed a predator's instinct to turn the ball in from close range after a deflected Ivan Rakitic cross from the left.
Mandzukic saw a stooping header turned around the post shortly afterwards but then gave Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers no choice but to send him off after a dangerous lunging tackle on Gudmundsson.
Despite being down to 10 men, Croatia went further in front as Srna's sublime finish settled their nerves.
He rifled in a low shot as he cut in on the right flank after a darting run and pinpoint delivery by midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
Croatia coach Niko Kovac:
"I want to thank [previous coach] Igor Stimac for steering us into the play-offs but most of all I wish to thank the players for leaving it all out there on the pitch tonight, I am very proud of them."
Iceland forward Eidur Gudjohnsen:
"Croatia was a better and more experienced opponent and showed its strength. Still, we have to be proud of what we have done in this World Cup campaign."
Line-ups
Croatia
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pletikosa
- 11Srna
- 21Pranjic
- 10ModricSubstituted forLovrenat 89'minutes
- 5Corluka
- 3SimunicBooked at 51mins
- 4Perisic
- 7Rakitic
- 17MandzukicBooked at 38mins
- 20KovacicSubstituted forRebicat 74'minutes
- 18OlicBooked at 7minsSubstituted forJelavicat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Vrsaljko
- 6Lovren
- 8Males
- 9Jelavic
- 12L Kalinic
- 13Schildenfeld
- 14Benko
- 15Rebic
- 16Badelj
- 19Kranjcar
- 22da Silva
- 23Subasic
Iceland
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Halldórsson
- 2Saevarsson
- 23AF Skúlason
- 17GunnarssonSubstituted forHallfredssonat 72'minutesBooked at 85mins
- 14Arnason
- 6R SigurdssonBooked at 44mins
- 7Gudmundsson
- 10G Sigurdsson
- 11Finnbogason
- 22GudjohnsenSubstituted forGislasonat 64'minutes
- 8Bjarnason
Substitutes
- 1Gunnleifsson
- 3Jónasson
- 4Jónsson
- 5Ottesen
- 13Pálsson
- 15Danielsson
- 16Jonsson
- 18Smárason
- 19Gislason
- 20Bjornsson
- 21Hallfredsson
- Referee:
- Bjorn Kuipers
Match Stats
Home TeamCroatiaAway TeamIceland
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home9
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away21
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Croatia 2, Iceland 0.
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Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Dangerous play by Darijo Srna (Croatia).
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Attempt saved. Ante Rebic (Croatia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ivan Perisic.
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Ari Freyr Skúlason (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nikica Jelavic (Croatia).
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Foul by Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland).
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Darijo Srna (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alfred Finnbogason (Iceland).
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Danijel Pranjic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Croatia. Dejan Lovren replaces Luka Modric.
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Attempt missed. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rurik Gislason.
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Foul by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
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Birkir Bjarnason (Iceland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Nikica Jelavic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Emil Hallfredsson (Iceland).
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Attempt missed. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Birkir Saevarsson.
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Foul by Nikica Jelavic (Croatia).
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Ragnar Sigurdsson (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
