Croatia Concludes the Iceland Saga

Rostov is where Cossacks met the rest of the world, which quickly discovered they meant business.

At the World Cup, dudes are serving as the de facto bouncers for the Russian organizers. They know their job and relish it to the point of being controversial.

Fortunately, that aspect of their presence hasn't boiled over into silly stuff.

Instead, supporters from all over can simply be impressed that Cossacks know how to party.

 

Try that for seven seconds or so. No wonder no one wants to mess with them when they're angry.

Both Croatian and Iceland supporters might've held their own. They hardy dudes, too, but the Icelanders especially made their mark by the sheer joy they've shown at just being part of the World Cup.

Their teams, though, were on different story arcs.

• Croatia had already qualified for the Round of 16, and their sights were on going further.
• Iceland had already exceeded expectations.

With their EuroCup run and World Cup qualification, Icelandic football can now be known for something other than this:

 

The Vatreni -- Blazers -- used this match to rest key players such as Mario Mandzukić, Ivan Rakitić, and Dejan Lovren. Their squad's deep, so Iceland still had more than they could handle.

While the Strákarnir okkar -- Our Boys -- spent the first half trying to pressure on Croatia, 'keeper Lovre Kalinić made sterling saves on anything that got past his calm teammates.

As for the second half, Croatia opened the scoring after a good cross from Ivan Perisić, and Milan Badelj scored in a spiffy half-volley:

 

Undaunted, Iceland's persistence paid off in the 75th minute, when Birkir Bjarnason's cross was deflected by substitute Lovren's arm, and the referee pointed at the Penalty spot.

Gylfi Sigurdsson converted:

 

Iceland just needed one more goal to maintain hopes of keeping their dream alive. However, in the 90th minute, Perisić put an end on it with a nifty finish:

Croatia, 1-2.

They'll face Denmark in the Round of 16, and they've gotta like their chances.

Meanwhile, the Boys have been duly christened, learning the ways of life at the highest level. Now, they've just gotta do what's required to return.