1-0: Budimir breaks down the Armenian wall and gives Croatia qualification

The Croatian miracle continued and the selection of Zlatko Dalic, with the indomitable captain Luka Modric at its head, It will also be present at Euro 2024 after defeating Armenia at the Maksimir stadium in Zagreb (1-0). Before Budimir, Osasuna striker, the author of the goal that confirmed the classification of this small country that remains among the elite of soccer in recent years.

Croatia, runner-up and third respectively in the last two World Cups in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, is in its sixth consecutive Euro Cup and seventh in its history. In fact since independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 He just missed a good continental event in 2000.

Now Croatia has to be beaten an Armenia with nothing at stake to retain second place in group D, after Turkey had already qualified, so that Wales, third, would be dislodged and relegated to the play-offs.

Armenia, a wall but Livakovic saved Croatia

It was not an easy victory because Croatia dominated all the time with the quality of Modric, but Armenia defended well and their goalkeeper. Ognen Cancarevic It was very successful.

Even with 0-0, Dominik Livakovic Croatia saved with a providential hand to deflect the ball for a corner afterwards Kamo Hovhannisyan will escape alone on the right and stands alone in front of the Fenerbahçe goalkeeper (29′).

CROATIA

10

ARMENIA

Croatia: Livakovic; Stanisic (Juranovic, 50′), Sutalo, Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Majer (Sucic, 84′); Kramaric (Marco Pasalic, 69′), Budimir (Baturina, 84′), Ivanusec (Mario Pasalic, 46′)
The
Armenia: Cancarevic; Hovhannisyan (Piloyan, 86′), Calisir, Harutyunyan, Mkrtchyan, Tiknizyan; Sevikyan (Serobyan, 70′), Harutyunyan (Dashyan, 70′), Spertsyan, Zelarayán (Bichakhchyan, 46′); Ranos (Miranyan, 73′)

Goal: 1-0 Budimir (43′)

Referee: Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia). Yellow for Inconvenience (87′)

Stadium: Maksimir, Zagreb
The

see the match sheet

Wales took an early lead in their match against Türkiye with a goal Neco Williams (7′) Croatia are useless for a tie. He had the ball and he never stopped making plays but two headers from Budimir, well saved by Cancarevic, They are his best offensive baggage.

Budimir, up to the third

Moments before the relegation to the third, it was the beauty. Borna Sosa set a perfect center from the left and the Osasuna attacker, at the near post, scores a header (42′).

The goal was a relief for the Croatian players, who had two chances to extend the lead before the end of the first half. Modric, with class, brought down a defensive rebound with his chest and his bouncing shot was immediately blocked by Cancarevic. Another attempt at Marcelo Brozovic He came out eating the pole.

Modric, star

In the second half the Croatian monologue continued under Modric’s baton, a luxury for the audience. Armenia continued without looking at Livakovic’s goal and others With his pause, Cancarevic prevented the chess players from giving free rein to their euphoria and celebrate the classification.

Cancarevic especially stands out in a double save on two consecutive shots by Andrej Kramaric and Mario Pasalic (56′) and also with another strong early shot from Brozovic (75′).

23 shots and 65% possession

The 2-0 lead was finally fought by Croatia, who had 65% possession and shot 23 times on goal, but Turkey’s equalizer in Cardiff, the work of Yusuf Yazici in the 70th minute, This reduced the uncertainty at the end of the match.

Modric and his compatriots saw the danger classification a few months ago but Dalic knows how to course correct and next summer in Germany they will have another chance to continue making history.