Match ends, Croatia 2, Iceland 0.
Croatia 2-0 Iceland
- From the section Football
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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Croatia 2, Iceland 0.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Dangerous play by Darijo Srna (Croatia).
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.
Ari Freyr Skúlason (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Nikica Jelavic (Croatia).
Foul by Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Iceland).
Darijo Srna (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alfred Finnbogason (Iceland).
Danijel Pranjic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Croatia. Dejan Lovren replaces Luka Modric.
Attempt missed. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Rurik Gislason.
Foul by Ivan Perisic (Croatia).
Birkir Bjarnason (Iceland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Nikica Jelavic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Emil Hallfredsson (Iceland).
Attempt missed. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Birkir Saevarsson.
Foul by Nikica Jelavic (Croatia).
Ragnar Sigurdsson (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Emil Hallfredsson (Iceland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Emil Hallfredsson (Iceland).
Foul by Nikica Jelavic (Croatia).
Ari Freyr Skúlason (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Darijo Srna (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Alfred Finnbogason (Iceland).
Foul by Darijo Srna (Croatia).
Ari Freyr Skúlason (Iceland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Vedran Corluka (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Birkir Bjarnason (Iceland).
Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Rurik Gislason (Iceland).
Substitution
Substitution, Croatia. Nikica Jelavic replaces Ivica Olic.
Corner, Iceland. Conceded by Vedran Corluka.
Foul by Ante Rebic (Croatia).
Rurik Gislason (Iceland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Danijel Pranjic (Croatia) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ivica Olic.
Ivan Perisic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Emil Hallfredsson (Iceland).
