CROATIA CRUISED TO a 4-1 victory over Greece in their World Cup play-off first leg on Thursday to move to the brink of a spot at next year’s finals in Russia.
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric opened the scoring in Zagreb from the penalty spot in the 13th minute, with Nikola Kalinic flicking in a second just six minutes later.
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Centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos gave the visitors hope on the half-hour mark, but Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic powered in a close-range header before the interval and Andrej Kramaric wrapped up a comfortable win for Ante Cacic’s side.
Croatia, who finished a disappointing second in Group 1 behind Iceland, are looking to qualify for their fifth World Cup since 1998.
- As proud Energy Partner to the FAI, SSE Airtricity have given us a pair of tickets to the sold-out Republic of Ireland vs Denmark game to give away. You’ll watch the Boys in Green (hopefully) seal World Cup qualification from your premium level seats after enjoying food and refreshments in the Vavasour Suite before the match. To enter simply email competitions@the42.ie with your score prediction for the away leg and we’ll pick a winner from the correct entries on Sunday morning.
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Definitely dodged a bullet there.
@Ardmore02: took the words from my mouth
@Ardmore02: even Mandzukic can’t get his game
We are lucky we didn’t get them
@Oisin Walsh: The top seeds are doing ominously well
Hope theyre on song at the tournament itself, would like to see them do well
A fantastic football country for its size . Every smallish country should be trying to copy them . They are brilliant .