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With Croatia having all but clinched first place in Group D ahead of its match against Iceland, manager Zlatko Dalic elected to make nine changes to his starting XI. For most teams there would be a notable dropoff, but this Croatia midfield has an aura of invincibility heading into the knockout stages.
Center midfielder Luka Modric and winger Ivan Perisic were the only two holdovers from the Argentina match in the lineup against Iceland. Modric was his usual self on the ball, controlling the tempo of the game and helping Croatia keep 61 percent of possession before being subbed off in the 65th minute.
Perisic played the entire game, and it wasn't until late on when he drilled a left-footed shot through Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson to put Croatia ahead for good.
#MundialTelemundo Ivan Perisic no perdona a #ISL y concreta para darle el triunfo al final del partido para #CRO. pic.twitter.com/60es2OTCOf
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 26, 2018
With holding midfielder Marcelo Brozovic and attacking midfielder Ivan Rakitic resting, 24-year-old Real Madrid reserve Mateo Kovacic and Fiorentina's Milan Badelj teamed up with Modric in the midfield.
Kovacic was all over the pitch with his usual high workrate, solid distribution and physical play. Badelj came out firing in the second half, striking the crossbar minutes before he opened the scoring with an excellent volley.
#MundialTelemundo ¡Adelante #CRO! Milan Badelj tiene al frente a los suyos y de paso le da una ayudita a #ARG . Lo sigues por @NBCUniverso pic.twitter.com/6m8X1uTdH2
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 26, 2018
Although Iceland was thoroughly outplayed by the Croatia midfield, the resilient Nordic nation fought back. An errant Dejan Lovren handball gifted Iceland a penalty, and Gylfi Sigurdsson converted from the spot in the 76th minute.
#MundialTelemundo Esta vez Gylfi Sigurdsson de #ISL logra concretar el penal y le da esperanza a su equipo ante #CRO. . Lo sigues por @NBCUniverso pic.twitter.com/lYTdBmdiBB
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 26, 2018
Had Iceland found a go-ahead goal, it could have advanced from to the knockout stage given Argentina's late win against Nigeria. Ultimately, though, Iceland couldn't create enough chances as it was stopped time and again by a world class Croatia midfield.
Dalic rested Rakitic and Brozovic in part to protect them from picking up a second yellow card. If either player is booked in the round of 16 or a possible quartefinal match, he would then miss the subsequent match. Yellow cards are wiped after the quarterfinals.
Striker Mario Mandzukic, right back Sime Vrsaljko and winger Ante Rebic are other notable players on Croatia who picked up a yellow card during the group stage.
Croatia will take on Group C runner-up Denmark on Sunday, July 1, at noon EST. A possible quarterfinal date with Spain is looming large. Sergio Busquets, Koke and Iniesta going up against a Croatia midfield of Rakitic, Modric and Brozovic would be the best midfield match up the World Cup could produce.
Croatia's odds a year ago to win the World Cup were at 66-1. It's safe to say they've come down quite a bit since then.
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