Croatia 1-1 Denmark (3-2 on penalties): Ivan Rakitic seals quarter-final spot in shootout after Danijel Subasic saves three penalties and Luka Modric had seen extra-time spot-kick dramatically kept out by Kasper Schmeichel
- Mathias Jorgensen gave Denmark the lead inside a minute after firing home from a long throw into the box
- Croatia equalised three minutes later after Denmark failed to clear and Mario Mandzukic turned the ball in
- After 90 minutes in Nizhny Novgorod the game entered extra-time after neither side was able to find a winner
- With seven minutes of extra time to go, Jorgensen fouled Ante Rebic inside the box when he was through
- Croatia captain Luka Modric stepped up but it was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel in the Denmark goal
- Christian Eriksen, Milan Badelj, Lasse Schone, Josip Pivaric and Nicolai Jorgensen all missed in the shootout
- Danijel Subasic saved three spot-kicks before Ivan Rakitic sealed Croatia's quarter-final place on Sunday
- Croatia now face Russia for a place in the last-four after the host nation shocked Spain in their last-16 tie
- AS IT HAPPENED: Recap the action from the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium with Sportsmail's ADAM SHERGOLD
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Goalkeepers were on top to the delight of Peter Schmeichel who was on his feet to roar his approval at the heroics of his son Kasper.
Perhaps the Schmeichels sensed a revenge for Euro 96 when Big Pete was made to look a bit silly by a chip from Davor Suker as Denmark lost their grip on the European title.
Schmeichel Jnr saved three penalties in total, one from Luka Modric, four minutes from the end of extra-time, and two more in the shootout which followed.
Croatia booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic victory over Denmark on Sunday evening
Mathias Jorgensen put Denmark into a first-minute lead in Nizhny Novgorod after firing home following a long throw
The defender's shot squirmed beyond Croatian defenders and goalkeeeper Danijel Subasic, who failed to stop it creeping in
Jorgensen is mobbed by his team-mates after netting the first goal from open play Croatia have conceded at the World Cup
Croatia were level within three minutes, however, after Mario Mandzukic turned home from close range on Sunday night
The Juventus forward (left) fired past Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from close range after a defensive mix-up
Croatia captain Luka Modric and Co celebrate with Mandzukic after he restored parity early in the last-16 showdown
With seven minutes to go in extra-time, Ante Rebic rounded the goalkeeper but was brought down for a penalty by Jorgensen
In front of his dad Peter, who was watching in the stands, Schmeichel guessed correctly and saved Modric's spot-kick
The Croatia captain sinks to the floor after missing the glorious opportunity to secure his side a spot in the last-eight
The Denmark goalkeeper is mobbed by his team-mates after keeping their World Cup campaign alive with the save
After 120 minutes of action in Nizhny Novgorod Danijel Subasic was the hero for Croatia, saving three penalties in shootout
Modric atoned for his earlier miss, beating Schmeichel at the second attempt as Croatia booked their spot in the last-eight
Christian Eriksen was one of the unlucky ones for Denmark, missing from 12 yards as his nation crashed out of the World Cup
Subasic saved with his feet from Denmark's Nicolai Jorgensen to put his side on the brink of victory in Nizhny Novgorod
Barcelona and Croatia star Ivan Rakitic sends Schmeichel the wrong way to ensure his side will face Russia in the last-eight
The Croatia squad mob their heroic goalkeeper after he saved three penalties to help them seal their spot in the quarter-finals
But his brilliance was matched by Danijel Subasic, who made three penalty saves and gave Ivan Rakitic the chance to send Croatia into a World Cup quarter-final against hosts Russia in Sochi.
Rakitic obliged, which was something a surprise because the standard of the penalty taking until that had been so low.
'Kasper did everything,' said Denmark boss Age Hareide. 'Our best three penalty takers missed and I am so sorry for Kasper and the whole team. We made a wonderful effort. It's the brutality of football.'
Schmeichel said: 'It's a strange feeling. A huge disappointment but also huge pride. I don't feel let down. Anybody who is brave enough to stand up and take a penalty is a hero in my book. With the pressure they're under, if you have the b***s to take that you have my respect.
'We win and lose as a team. I'm proud to be part of it. And we'll be back. We'll use this in the future.'
Six saved penalties was firmly in keeping with the finishing on display during the rest of the contest
Ivan Perisic, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League, misses a good chance to put Croatia ahead
Modric chases his down his opposite number and Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen during the first half in Russia
Rebic is chased down by Dalsgaard during a first half in Nizhny Novgorod that ended 1-1 following the two early goals
This was a tie littered with mistakes and defined by four minutes of chaos at the start of the game and another brief chaotic spell at the end.
Croatia's victory did at least deliver a sense of justice, aside from the emotion of the Schmeichel narrative.
There were 116 minutes on the clock when Luka Modric slid Ante Rebic clear.
Rebic skipped around Schmeichel and was about to roll the ball into an open goal when Mathias Jorgensen scythed him down from behind.
Modric took the penalty and Schmeichel saved, diving to his left.
Jorgensen escaped with a yellow card and Denmark made it into the penalty shoot-out.
Modric to his credit had the bottle to step forward take another, Croatia's third in the shoot-out when Schmeichel was bristling with and the pressure was on the taker.
Denmark forward Yussuf Poulsen looks to bring down the ball as Inter Milan star Marcelo Brozovic (R) looks to close him down
Martin Braithwaite missed a good opportunity to restore Denmark's lead but he failed to fire past Subasic from close range
Modric controls the ball in space during a first half in which Croatia grew into the ascendancy but could not find a second goal
This time he scored, Subasic saved the next two from Denmark and Rakitic won the tie which had started with two untidy goals inside the first four minutes.
It seemed set to be a thriller but proved to be anything but, which explains the giddiness about this side of the draw, which England are in.
There really is nothing extra special. There are teams who can have a good day as Croatia did against Argentina.
Yet there is not team to dread - and no team with experience in the late stages of a World Cup.
This game was just 57 seconds old when Croatia slipped behind having failed to defend a long throw from Ipswich defender Jonas Knudsen.
Thomas Delaney helped it to the back post, where Jorgensen became the first Huddersfield player to score in a World Cup.
Subasic threw down his left hand but was only able to divert the ball under his body, against a post and into the net.
Denmark skipper Simon Kjaer is flattened by a challenge from Croatia'a Rebic during the first half in Nizhny Novgorod
Croatia's players appeal for a penalty after Jonas Krudsen collides with Mandzukic inside the Denmark penalty area
Croatia legend Davor Suker, who won the Golden Boot at the 1998 World Cup with six goals, was among the crowd on Sunday
The two managers, Denmark's Age Hareide (L) and Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic (R), watch on during Sunday's last-16 clash
The lead was wiped out within three minutes, when an amateurish scramble took hold at the other end of the pitch after a charge down the right from Rebic.
Sime Vrsaljko toe-punted a low cross into the box from the right and the Danes self-destructed when an attempt to clear by Henrik Dalsgaard smacked teammate Andreas Christensen full in the face.
Chelsea centre-half Christensen, deployed by the Danes as a deep in midfielder, collapsed in a heap and was forced off at half time, still feeling the effects of the impact.
The rebound spilled to Mario Mandzukic who swept the bouncing ball past Schmeichel on the turn.
Such a frenetic tempo could not continue but a pattern of sorts was set. Denmark were most threatening from set-pieces and Croatia were dangerous on the flanks but often lacked composure.
Mandzukic puts his hands to his head after a chance goes begging for Croatia during the last-16 showdown on Sunday
Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel rolls on to his front after making a save as the game headed for 30 extra minutes
They dominated first half after hitting back but were unable to convert this into more goals as Schmeichel saved from Rakitic and Perisic snatched at a chance. Dejan Lovren ought to have hit the target with a header.
Danish opportunities were more fleeting. Subasic smothered one at the feet of Martin Braithwaite and Eriksen clipped the frame of the goal with what appeared to be a cross which drifted off target rather an attempt to chip the goalkeeper from out wide.
Denmark were tighter after the break and managed to engage higher up the pitch, with much more control. They neutralised the Croatian wingers but giving them defensive duties to think about, although it did little for the game as a spectacle.
The midfield areas became congested, Modric and Rakitic found it increasingly difficult to dictate the pattern of the tie as the tie drifted towards the late flurry of activity.
