Croatia Have Qualified For The 2022 World Cup

Croatia have qualified for the 2022 World Cup thanks to an own goal in the rain and mud, meaning Russia enter the play-offs.

This was a head-to-head for top spot and automatic passage to the tournament in Qatar.

Croatia needed to win and their efforts were hampered by shocking conditions in Split, as torrential rain made the pitch waterlogged and extremely muddy.

Inter players Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic forced saves, but the game was eventually decided by a comical own goal, as under very little pressure, Fedor Kudryashov bundled into his own net when trying to clear a Borna Sosa cross from the left.

It means Croatia go into the 2022 World Cup, packed with Serie A players including Perisic, Brozovic, Mario Pasalic and Josip Brekalo, having reached the Final in 2018.

Also already qualified are hosts Qatar, plus Germany, Denmark, Brazil, Belgium and France.

Russia enter the play-offs, so depending on what happens tomorrow with Northern Ireland vs. Italy and Switzerland vs. Bulgaria, could potentially be one of the Azzurri’s opponents on the path towards the competition.

Source: football-italia