By Anna Italia
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Italian Soccer Serie A Blog supports Italian Serie A players in the World Cup

41% Ball Possession ICELAND and 59% Ball Possession CROATIA

 Iceland 1 – 2 Croatia 

76′ Gylfi Sigurdsson (pen)                53′ Milan Badelj
.                                                                   90′ Ivan Perisic

Stats BEFORE the game.
Croatia, 1st position with 6 points and a positive goal difference of +5
Iceland, 3rd position with 1 point and a negative goal difference of -1

Croatia grabbing the victory winning the First Stage Group D game on Tuesday 26 June at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don, Russia. Croatia winning their 3 games for the perfect 9 points qualifying for the Round of 16. Croatia will face Denmark.  Good news for the Serie A is that it was Inter player Ivan Perisic to score the winner goal for Croatia.

First Stage Group D Standing After Matchday 3

Croatia in the 1st position with 9 points and a positive goal difference of +6. Argentina in the 2nd position with 4 points and a negative goal difference of -2. Nigeria in the 3rd position with 3 points and a negative goal difference of -1. Iceland in the 4th position with 1 point and a negative goal difference of -3.

Never in doubt.
Was it? ?#NGAARG #ISLCRO pic.twitter.com/i2YhosG1Aa

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

It is Croatia to open the score in the 53rd minute. Milan Badelj defeating Iceland goalkeeper with a right footed shot in the top left corner.

Meanwhile, in Rostov-On-Don…#CRO take the lead!

Milan Badelj scores! #ISLCRO 0-1 pic.twitter.com/AnZ4aLQyMF

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

Iceland equalizing for the 1-1 in the 76th minute. Gylfi Sigurdsson converts the penalty defeating Croatia goalkeeper with a right footed shot in the center. The penalty is conceded by Dejan Lovren after a handball inside the penalty area.

#ISL

This is tense. So tense. #ISLCRO 1-1 pic.twitter.com/13VFsVCKkn

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

AND ANOTHER GOAL!

Ivan Perisic gives #CRO the lead!

AS IT STANDS:

1) #CRO
2) #ARG
————-
3) #NGA
4) #ISL pic.twitter.com/EzdKFzIPSe

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

Here is ICELAND official lineup – formation by Head Coach Hallgrimsson:

ICELAND (4-2-3-1): Halldórsson; Sævarsson, Ingason, R. Sigurdsson, Magnússon; Hallfreðsson, Gunnarsson; Guðmundsson, G. Sigurdsson, Bjarnason; Finnbogason.

Here is CROATIA official lineup – formation by Head Coach Dalić:

CROATIA  (4-2-3-1): Kalinić; Jedvaj, Corluka, Ćaleta-Car, Pivarić; Badelj, Modrić; Pjaca, Kovacic, Perišić; Kramarić​.

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Italian Serie A Players with Iceland vs Croatia

• •  Iceland National team:  1 Italian Serie A players: Udinese midfielder Emil Hallfredsson
• • Croatia National team: 6 Italian Serie A players: Sampdoria defender Ivan Strinic, Fiorentina midfielder Milan Badelj, Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic, Inter forward Ivan Perisic, and AC Milan forward Nikola Kalinic

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⬇#CRO starting lineup!#BeProud #ISLCRO #WorldCup #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/8TUla21c14

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) June 26, 2018

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⬇#CRO starting lineup!#BeProud #ISLCRO #WorldCup #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/8TUla21c14

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) June 26, 2018

Referee designations FWC 2018 Match 40: #ISL?#CRO (26 June):

Referee: Antonio MATEU (ESP)
ASR 1: Pau CEBRIAN DEVIS (ESP)
ASR 2: Roberto DIAZ PEREZ (ESP)
4th Off. John PITTI (PAN)
Res.Ass Gabriel VICTORIA (PAN)@FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/OsuCnuDUll

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) June 24, 2018

Mere numbers cannot begin to describe the drama and excitement that football provides.

But, anyway, here are the stats from #NGAARG and #ISLCRO.#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ybQDeJ1spu

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

Maximum points for #CRO as they top Group D.
They face #DEN on Sunday in Round of 16. pic.twitter.com/SeKh61ubGt

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup
First stage – Group D

Iceland 1 – 2 Croatia
Tuesday 26 June 2018
Rostov Arena
Rostov-On-Don, Russia

21:00

Referee: Antonio MATEU (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Pau CEBRIAN DEVIS (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Roberto DIAZ PEREZ (ESP)
Fourth Official: John PITTI (PAN)
Res. Assistant: Gabriel VICTORIA (PAN)

Goals: 53′ Milan Badelj (C), 76′ Gylfi Sigurdsson (pen)(I), 90′ Ivan Perisic (C)

Official lineups – formations:

ICELAND (4-2-3-1): Halldórsson; Sævarsson, Ingason, R. Sigurdsson, Magnússon; Hallfreðsson, Gunnarsson; Guðmundsson, G. Sigurdsson, Bjarnason; Finnbogason.

Coach: Hallgrímsson.

CROATIA  (4-2-3-1): Kalinić; Jedvaj, Corluka, Ćaleta-Car, Pivarić; Badelj, Modrić; Pjaca, Kovacic, Perišić; Kramarić​.

Coach: Dalić.