Russia’s remarkable World Cup run ended in a heart-breaking quarter-final defeat on penalties as Croatia bounced back from a late extra-time equaliser to set up a last-four meeting with England.
Defender Mario Fernandes, who had brought his side level through a header in the 115th-minute, missed what proved to be the decisive spot-kick, with Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic making no mistake as he ended the hosts’ remarkable run at this tournament.
Immediately after his penalty went in Rakitic was mobbed by his team-mates – in repeat scenes of Croatia’s last-16 shootout victory over Denmark.
Despite defeat, the home fans broke into heartfelt applause as they cheered their beaten side long and loud after the final whistle in recognition of their achievements against the odds.
Brazil-born defender Fernandes’ miss – blazed low and wide of the post – was the second of two failed Russian spot-kicks.
Fedor Smolov missed the first with a weak Panenka effort that was easily stopped by Danijel Subasic, while opposite number Igor Akinfeev stopped one – a fabulous low save from Mateo Kovacic.
But in the end that was irrelevant. As was the stunning goal that gave Russia the lead in this, their first quarter-final appearance since 1970 and the days of the Soviet Union.
That came through a Denis Cheryshev first-half curler from outside the box, his fourth goal of the tournament and one of the finest at this World Cup.
But only eight minutes later an Andrej Kramaric header amid slack marking brought Croatia level, and after the break Ivan Perisic saw a low shot crash against the post and out across the face of goal as Zlatko Dalic’s side began to control the game.
Yet they only led for the first time when Domagoj Vida’s header found its way into the net through a crowd of players in the first half of extra time.
And after Fernandes’ late equaliser from Alan Dzagoev’s free-kick – the midfielder was making his first appearance as a substitute since suffering injury in Russia’s opening game – you felt the momentum would be with Russia.
But victory was Croatia’s, and it means they emulate their great side of 1998, who were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual winners France 20 years ago.
Next will be England, who reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 28 years with a 2-0 victory over Sweden earlier on Saturday.
The two teams will meet in Moscow on Wednesday at 19:00 BST, while Belgium and France will contest the first semi-final on Tuesday in St Petersburg, also at 19:00 BST.
As the national anthem soared around the ground before kick-off, Russia fans unfurled two banners that read: “If not you, who? If not now, when?”
Here in Sochi on Friday, boss Stanislav Cherchesov was asked whether the meeting with Croatia was the biggest match of his players’ lives.
All this for a team ranked 70th in the world who before the tournament were fancied by very few to make it out of their group.
However, Cherchesov did not want to put any more pressure on his players. “I hope that the most important games are still ahead of us,” he said with a knowing smile.
It turns out his hopes will not be realised – at least not at this tournament.
But Russia can be hugely proud of what they have achieved, and not only in this performance where the players clearly showed they understood only too well that a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was at stake.
They almost pulled off another sensational triumph – and it was recognised in the reaction of the incredible home support, who applauded their team off the pitch for a final time in emotional scenes.
For Croatia, this is a generation that is quite probably playing its last World Cup together – perhaps even its last major tournament.
Real Madrid’s Luka Modric is 32, Barcelona’s Rakitic, 30, Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic is 32, and Inter Milan forward Perisic 29.
Despite those stellar names this was not a dominant performance – up against a battling Russia team Zlatko Dalic’s side failed to make their supposed superior quality count.
But just as they did against Denmark in the last 16, they found their way through to the next round – on penalties again, after extra time again.
With England up next in four days’ time, will they have the energy to finally produce their very best? Can they go one better than the team of 1998? Time will tell.