Russia vs. Croatia Live: World Cup 2018

Russia and Croatia both have the weight of history on their teams as they face off in Sochi: Croatia is trying to match the 1998 squad’s memorable run to the World Cup semifinals, while Russia is trying to reach the final four for the first time.

• Russia is in red; Croatia is in blue.

• Refresh here for live World Cup updates and analysis from Russia.

• England vs. Sweden: Here’s what happened.

Russia		Croatia
	Quarterfinal

Luka Modric Martin Bernetti/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

How to watch: In the U.S., Fox and Telemundo have the broadcast at 2 p.m. Eastern, but you can stream it here.

7’: Russia’s Goalkeeper Tested

Rebic forces Akinveev into his first save right away at the other end, sending a hard pass into the middle from near the goal, but the Russian goalkeeper gets his hands on it and knocks it out of bounds. Rebic gets a head on the ensuing corner kick as well, but it goes a couple feet high. Plenty of offense so far in this one.

5’: Early Danger for Russia

Aleksandr Golovin produces another dangerous moment for Russia, with a good hustle play to win the ball before it went across the end line and send it into the area, where Dzyuba gets a powerful foot on the ball. But it blasts off a Croatian defender’s back and out.

2’: Pressing Early

Russia with an early chance, as Dzyuba feeds a sprinting Cheryshev in the area, but Cheryshev scuffs his shot and it goes out for a goal kick. Plenty of pressing from both sides early.

1’: Kickoff!

We’re underway, with a spot in the World Cup semifinals on the line: Russia’s in red, and Croatia, disappointingly, is in dark blue instead of its classic white and red.

One More Yellow and They’re Gone

Seven starters are carrying yellow cards into today’s match, meaning they’d miss the semifinal if they won and drew another yellow today: Aleksandr Golovin, Ilya Kutepov and Roman Zobnin for Russia; Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic, Ante Rebic and Sime Vrsaljko for Croatia.

More Penalties Ahead?

If this one goes to penalties (which, given Russia’s strategy against Spain, doesn’t seem terribly unlikely), neither goalkeeper will be short on confidence.

Both made multiple saves in their nations’ round of 16 victories: Igor Akinfeev stopped two of Spain’s shots in Russia’s win, and Danijel Subasic outdueled Kasper Schmeichel by making three saves in Croatia’s penalty win over Denmark. Both have plenty of experience on the club stage — Subasic, 33, with Monaco, and Akinfeev, 32, with CSKA Moscow — but Akinfeev entered this tournament with 110 international appearances, while Subasic had 41.