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There was no limit to the happiness of Croatian players after Mario Mandzukic’s extra-time goal which eventually earned them a final spot in the FIFA World Cup 2018. Mandzukic’s goal helped Croatia beat England 2-1 in the semi-final and eventually knock out the Three Lions out of the ongoing prestigious quadrennial event.
Croatia, featuring in a World Cup semi-final only for the second time after a gap of 20 years, needed a goal from Mandzukic in the 109th minute from close range after left winger Ivan Perisic (68th minute) cancelled out Kieran Trippier’s goal for England in the fifth minute from a free-kick.
The moment when you book your country a place in the #WorldCupFinal!
A goal that @MarioMandzukic9 and @HNS_CFF will never forget…
👀 TV listings 👉 https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO
📺 Highlights 👉 https://t.co/LOdKDX2Cwn pic.twitter.com/giu0LqA3iP— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018
The goal prompted wild celebrations from the Croatian players as they went a little carried away and some of the dutiful press photographers positioned on the sidelines had to face some inconvenient moments.
During the celebrations, players mobbed Mandzuki and eventually crashed into the photographers’ area and ended up piling on top of one of the photographers-Agence France Presse snapper Yuri Cortez — who got pinned beneath Mandzukic and his compatriots. However, the players then helped him to his feet and apologised profusely, with defender Domagoj Vida offering the snapper a big kiss for his trouble.
Team Croatia apologizes to photographers after accidentally trampling them celebrating a goal in the #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/FMlkr0cIyE
— Brian Koerber (@bkurbs) July 11, 2018
Thankfully, no photojournalists were reported to be injured in the celebration of Mandzukic’s goal.
Croatia will play France for the title on Sunday. England meanwhile, will face Belgium in the third-place match on Saturday.
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