Croatia, Switzerland qualify for World Cup

PIRAEUS, Greece: Croatia qualified for the 2018 World Cup on Sunday by holding Greece to a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their play-off here for a 4-1 win on aggregate.

Zlatko Dalic’s men will be playing in their fifth World Cup in Russia next year, having only once failed to qualify in 2010.“We had a good match in Zagreb but it was difficult here. If we had won 1-0 (in the first leg) it would have been very difficult tonight,” said Croatia coach Dalic, who only took over from the sacked Ante Cacic last month.

“We are a very good team and it would not be just for us not to go to Russia.”A strong defensive performance, especially in the second half, was enough for Croatia to leave the Karaisiakis Stadium with a comfortable victory over the two legs after winning 4-1 on Thursday.

“It was a tough match for us. We did not play at our level, but more important is the result,” said Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric.“Greece played a good game tonight, it pushed us, but there was no serious opportunity (of a comeback).”

Greece coach Michael Skibbe dropped half of his players from the disastrous first-leg showing in Zagreb, and the return of Roma defender Kostas Manolas kept Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic in check.

For the first 30 minutes Greece were in control, but despite two good shots from Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos and AEK Athens forward Anastasios Bakasetas, the home team failed to get the much-needed early goal.

Greece came close to scoring four minutes before half-time when a cross from Kostas Mitroglou found midfielder Zeca, who headed the ball in front of the Croatian goalmouth, only for goalkeeper Danijel Subasic to tip the ball away with Panagiotis Retsos ready to head in.

But the visitors nearly put the tie to bed when a left-footed blast by Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic hit the post in the 43rd minute, after Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic had earlier curled a free-kick over the crossbar.

Greece continued to enjoy more of the ball in the second period but when it came to finishing off an attack, either a pass would go astray or a defender would step in.A shot on the turn by Mitroglou from just outside the penalty area just missed the post with an outstretched Subasic unable to reach it.

Greece did put the ball in the net in the 79th minute, but substitute Dimitris Pelkas was correctly called offside.Bologna defender Vasilis Torosidis’ shot was blocked by Subasic with just three minutes left, denying Greece even a consolation strike.

Meanwhile, Switzerland held off Northern Ireland to also seal a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia with a 0-0 second-leg draw that secured a 1-0 aggregate play-off victory.Vladimir Petkovic’s side wasted numerous first-half chances as the Northern Irish stayed in the tie, but Ricardo Rodriguez’s controversial first-leg penalty in Belfast proved enough for the Swiss to reach their fourth consecutive World Cup.

Northern Ireland fell short in their bid to reach a first finals since 1986.“Ultimately we’ve gone out to a poor decision in the first leg,” Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill told Sky Sports, after a harsh handball decision against Corry Evans saw Rodriguez score the only goal of the tie.

“Our performance and reaction tonight was fabulous. We were the better team.“We had to ride our luck at times but we were pushing until the 94th minute. The players are devastated but I couldn’t be any prouder.”

O’Neill replaced Kyle Lafferty up front with Queens Park Rangers striker Conor Washington, while the hosts named an unchanged starting XI.With heavy rain leaving the St Jakob-Park pitch in bad condition, Northern Ireland started strongly.

Chris Brunt brought a good save from Sommer with a swerving long-range strike in only the third minute, before Stuart Dallas fired over from the resulting corner.In a high-tempo opening to the game, Haris Seferovic should have doubled the hosts’ aggregate lead but headed Xherdan Shaqiri’s vicious cross past the far post.

Switzerland continued to push for a crucial opening goal, but Gareth McAuley did well to help Blerim Dzemaili’s shot over the crossbar, and Benfica striker Seferovic again headed a Shaqiri delivery off target.

O’Neill’s visitors still looked much brighter than they had been in Thursday’s loss in Belfast, but the 25-year-old Seferovic was proving a real handful as he volleyed wide from a tight angle.

Petkovic’s side were struggling to make the most of their early chances, though, as goalkeeper Michael McGovern got down quickly to deny Stoke City winger Shaqiri at the near post.The Norwich City keeper was called into action once more before the half-hour mark, keeping out Steven Zuber’s low drive with his legs.

The Swiss, who finished second to Portugal in qualifying Group B despite winning nine of 10 matches, came out of the blocks quickly after half-time with Zuber seeing an effort blocked and left-back Rodriguez drilling narrowly wide.

Northern Ireland sent out a reminder that they were still in with a chance of forcing extra-time, as Washington sent a header looping away from keeper Sommer, but also the top corner.

Switzerland had become frustrated by their inability to kill the tie off, and Washington created a good chance for George Saville to break the deadlock, only for the Millwall midfielder to curl tamely at Sommer.O’Neill sent on Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones for his international debut with 15 minutes remaining.

The home side should have sealed a ticket to Russia in the 85th minute, but Seferovic’s poor day in front of goal went from bad to worse when he blazed over with the goal at his mercy.Northern Ireland almost made him pay with a late rally, but Rodriguez cleared a Jonny Evans injury-time header off the line as Switzerland clung on.