The intense rain was the protagonist of the game, which prevented the Croats from playing with the fluidity to which they are accustomed.
Croatia got the ticket to participate in the Qatar-2022 World Cup after beating Russia 1-0 this Sunday, a result that ensures it finish in the first place of group H of the European qualifiers.
The Balkans, finalists in Russia-2018, will play their sixth World Cup thanks to a goal against Fyodor Kudriashov in the 81st minute, while the Russians will have to go through the repechage to seek their classification.
Croatia thus joins the group of teams already classified for the 2022 World Cup, which includes Germany, Denmark, France and Belgium for the European zone, Brazil for South America and Qatar as the host of the tournament.
In Split, Croatia started two points behind in qualifying, earning the Russians a draw to qualify for the fifth time for a World Cup.
The intense rain was the protagonist of the game, which prevented the Croats from playing with the fluidity to which they are accustomed.
Ecstasy for the home crowd came ten minutes from time, when full-back Kudriachov deflected a Croatian center with his knee and sent the ball into the back of the net from his own goal.
It will be Croatia’s sixth World Cup appearance since this small Balkan country proclaimed its independence in 1991. In addition to the final in 2018 (lost to France), the Croats also reached the semi-finals in 1998. (D)
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