Russia and Croatia remain at the top of group H

German CentenoFollow

Oct 13, 20213 min de lectura

So far Russia and Croatia continue at the top of group H and neither team seems to loosen the rope, so both teams maintain the pulse for qualifying for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Qualifying Croatia beat Cyprus 0-3, while Russia did the same against Slovakia 1-0.

For now, Karpin's team and the Balkan side are tied in the first position with 16 points respectively, but Croatia's are the current leaders by the respective goals of average.

Croatia continues in one of its best moments

Luka Modrić, the 10th member of Real Madrid and the main figure of Croatia, was the one who led this victory against Cyprus 0-3, so his team continues as the current leader of group H of the qualifying phase for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

It must be remembered that Croatia's moment has been going on for a long time, that is how they come from being runner-up in the world and that so far they show a good image for what will be the next world cup.

In addition, they have recovered their captain, who had been absent in recent games due to injury.

During the game, Modric could be seen very similar to the one who plays in Spain, where he assisted Ivan Perišić so that his team will place the 0-1 in the added time of the first half.

Likewise, the Real Madrid player could not extend this advantage to make it 0-2 at the beginning of the second half through the penalty spot, after Nicholas Ioannou committed a foul inside the area.

Luka Modrić executed the penalty, however, the goalkeeper Neofytos Michail stopped him and fired, a moment of the game where it seemed that Cyprus was inspired and could start to fight a game battle on the field.

However, Croatia could make it 0-2 at minute 80 of the game through Josko Gvardiol, after a corner kick.

Finally, in added time, after an assist from Josip Brekalo, Marko Livaja sealed the victory with 0-3. With this victory, Zlatko Dalic's team now has three consecutive games adding three points. Luka Modrić was substituted with six minutes to go, who was applauded during his withdrawal from the field.

Russia struggles, but continues to win

The Russian team also managed to add three points this Friday, who achieved a vital victory for their World Cup options, who so far are positioning themselves very well in the classification. Russia defeated Slovakia by the minimum 1-0, although Slovakia deserved to have more luck, since the figure of the match was the Russian goalkeeper, who was largely responsible for the victory of his team.

The match was defined by an undeserved own goal by the experienced Inter Milan central defender of the Italian league, Skriniar, which allowed those led by Valeri Karpin to add three points that places them with 16 points, a total points equal to those of the current leader of group H Croatia.

Both teams seem to already have a foot in Qatar, so they only have to refine details and improve the game in the next matches, mainly for the Russians, who have left many doubts in this last match, but who have had the luck of their own favor to gain a victory that for many has been undeserved.