Croatia Rejoices After World Cup Win Against Denmark

Croatia's national football team has gone through to the World Cup quarter-finals after beating Denmark 3-2 in a penalty shootout in Nizhny Novgorod.

After the adrenalin-filled drama on the football pitch on Sunday, the whole country went into delirium.

Squares filled with celebrators, some carrying torches, others climbing up lamp posts and throwing themselves into fountains. Drivers sped round towns and cities, honking their horns.

An unusual scene was recorded around Strossmayer Square in Zagreb where police officers fired rotational lights in honour of the victory in Russia of the national team.

Since Croatia has now qualified for its first World Cup quarter-final since 1998, which will pit it against host country Russia, many compared the pictures from Sunday with the scenes of that celebration 20 years ago - when the national team achieved its greatest ever success in football - a bronze at the World Cup in France.

The course of the game was bewildering, to say the least. Mathias Jorgensen scored for Denmark after only 57 seconds, one of the quickest goals ever scored in a World Cup. Then Mario Mandzukic equalised for Croatia after three minutes and 40 seconds.

No other goals followed within the 120 minutes of the game, until Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 on penalties.

The hero of the day was Croatia's goalkeeper Danijel Subasic who saved three penalty shots before Ivan Rakitić scored the winning goal.

Croatia will play Russia in Sochi on July 7.

Supporters of Croatia celebrate as they watch the broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2018 round of 16 soccer match between Croatia and Denmark played in Nizhny Novgorod, in central Zagreb, Croatia, 01 July 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE/STR Supporters of Croatia celebrate as they...