Live updates as Russia aim to continue their historic World Cup run as they meet Croatia in the quarter-finals in Sochi. Check out all the action and reaction in the text below.
07 July 2018
So, we leave our live updates here, but you can check out the full match report from Sochi here.
We'll be back for the semi-finals and finals, so stay with RT Sport for all the World Cup action.
Russian coach Stanislav Cherchesov:
"It's a shame we lost... we gave away goals we shouldn't have... but I thank the players and the fans.
"We didn't have one player was the best, it was the whole team..."
So, the semi-final line-ups are complete as Russia bow out. They've illuminated the tournament on the pitch when many thought they would struggle.
From the 5-0 opening rout of Saudi Arabia to tonight's agonizing shooutout loss, they've contributed massively to this wonderful tournament.
They now make way for others, but their place in history is secure...
Croatian players celebrate with their fans, Russia take the commiserations from their home fans - they've done them proud, and they've done their nation proud.
The hosts are out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals, after a brave, brave effort.
Few expected them to come this far, but they've battled to the end and gone out in the cruelest possible circumstances.
Croatia head into a semi-final with England in Moscow on Wednesday.
Agony for Russia as Ivan Rakitic slots home the decisive penalty for Croatia...
GOAL! Croatia win 4-3 on penalties
GOAL! Russia 3-3 Croatia
Kuzyaev scores for Russia, but if Croatia score next, they win...
GOAL! Russia 2-3 Croatia
Vida slots home for Croatia.
GOAL! Russia 2-2 Croatia
Veteran Ignashevich slots home for Russia
GOAL! Russia 1-2 Croatia
So, so close! Akinfeev saves from Luka Modric, but it hits the post and bounces in!
MISSED! Russia 1-1 Croatia
SAVED! Russia 1-1 Croatia
Akinfeev with a supersave to his left from Kovacic!
Goal! Russia 1-1 Croatia
Dzagoev calmly slots home for Russia...
Goal! Russia 0-1 Croatia
Brozovic sticks his penalty away, despite Akinfeev guessing right
Saved!
Smolov hits the ball weakly down the middle and Subasic saves!
Smolov is taking the first penalty for Russia...
So, here we go, a nail-biting, nerve-jangling end to this game and one team's World Cup dreams...
Croatian stopper Danijel Subasic saved three penalties against the Danes; Igor Akinfeev saved two for Russia against Spain.
Can the 'keepers perform the same heroics today?
So, for the second time in two games for both teams, it goes to penalties.
Russia, remember, overcame Spain 4-3 on penalties in the last 16, while Croatia beat Denmark 3-2 in a shootout.
The whistle goes for the end of extra time. We go to penalties... It's a shootout in Sochi.
Russia pressing for a winner - Croatia rocking as Roman Zobnin shoots from range, but Subasic gets down to make the save.
Amazing drama in Sochi. Russia were heading out, Fernandes stepped up to give his adopted nation a lifeline. Three minutes left to play. This is the World Cup that keeps on giving.
Mario Fernandes!! The full-back leaps to head home from a Dzagoev free-kick. The man from Brazil has rescued Russia's World Cup hopes!
GOAL!!! Russia 2-2 Croatia!!!
113 mins: Smolov frees himself down the left, chips the ball into the box but Subasic tips it away. Russia knocking at the door. They're not going out without a fight it seems.
112 mins: Russia coach Cherchesov again waving his arms in the air, stirring up the crowd. Kuzyaev volleys from the edge of the box, he hits its sweetly but sadly for Russia it's straight at Subasic, who makes the save.
Russia's World Cup dream fading...
Yellow card for Russia's Yuri Gazinsky as he bundles over Mandzukic. First yellow for Russia today. Croatia killing the game, Fisht Stadium very quiet at the moment.
Looking at the running stats for this game, Russian players have covered around 7.5km more in total than the Croatians. That's bound to take it out of them, but they're going to have to force one final push in the last 15 minutes.
We're underway for the second half of extra time in Sochi.
Looking at the replays of that Croatia goal, it was a soft one to concede. Vida was unmarked from the corner, the ball has come through several bodies with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev unsighted and it trundles over the line.
The first half of extra time comes to a close with Russia throwing everything at Croatia.
They'll have 15 minutes to rescue their chances of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.
The crowd's gone a bit flat in Sochi. Russia are really going to need a 12th man here.
2 minutes of added time at the end of the first half of extra time.
Vida was booked for Croatia in the misdst of the celebrations for that goal - he took his shirt off and waved it around the air.
103 mins: Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov responds to going behind by bringing off Aleksandr Golovin for Alan Dzagoev - making a return to the action after his injury early in the opening game against Saudi Arabia.
Cherchesov is imploring the crowd to get behind the team here.
Agony for Russia, just moments after they had a chance of their own from a break, they concede at the other end when Domagoj Vida heads home from a corner.
He rose to head it unmarked, and the ball has come through a crowd of bodies before finding its way in.
20 minutes for Russia to get back into this.
GOAL: Russia 1-2 Croatia
97 mins: Sime Vrsaljko can't continue, he's replaced by Lokomotiv Moscow's Vedran Corluka. Fourth and final change for Croatia.
94 mins: Croatia down to 10 men at the moment as Vrsaljko receives treatment after pulling up.
Back underway in Sochi for the first half of extra time.
Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic surprisingly not replaced at the break after what seemed like a serious muscle injury, but that rub-down must have done him the world of good.
Both sets of players making the most of the break to get some massages in for some tired muscles.
Croatia in a huddle with coach Zlatko Dalic giving out intense instructions.
The Croatians looked the better team in th second half, but Russia held on. We'll see how the next 30 minutes pan out...
An intriguing battle in Sochi. Croatia with 67% of the ball, 10 shots to Russia's 7, but both sides with 2 on target.
Both teams had extra time in their last 16 matches, could be a question of fitness now as well as guile and craft.
FULL TIME: Russia 1-1 Croatia
We go to extra time in Sochi.
90 + 3mins: Subasic - the man with the muscle injury - saves from Smolov after he blasts the ball across the Croatia goal.
90 + 2 mins: Croatia pressing hard to get the winner with a series of corners, Russia need to hang on here.
Subasic has stayed on, although doesn't look comfortable. 5 mins of added time in Sochi.
88 mins: Croatia make another change, Real Madrid man Mateo Kovacic comes on for the goalscorer, Kramaric.
Meanwhile, 'keeper Subasic looks in trouble as he attempts to clear the ball. Croatia have made their three normal-time changes, they get one more should it go to extra time, remember.
85 mins: Russia win a free-kick on the left, Aleksandr Golovin curls a lovely, tempting, teasing ball into the box... but it doesn't meet a Russian head and Croatia clear their lines. Extra time beckons...
84 mins: Russia's Brazilian-born full-back Mario Fernandes is still full of energy on the right. The guy is a human dynamo.
Erokhin is down getting treatment after getting a dig to the stomach, but he's up and back into the fray. inside the last 10 in Sochi. Tense.
79 mins: It's actually striker Artem Dzyuba who comes off for Russia, Yuri Gazinsky on. The big man was looking tired, but he was the main target from set pieces, a lot was flowing through him. A striker for a midfielder - Cherchesov shutting up shop?
78 mins: Russia readying another change, looks like Yuri Gazinsky will be the man to come on, Daler Kuzyaev perhaps coming off in midfield?
75 mins: Russia have steadied the ship slightly in the last few minutes. They were like a prize fighter rocking on the ropes, but they've regained their senses - although Modric does almost force an opening for Croatia.
74 mins: Another change for Croatia as Ivan Strinic comes off, Josip Pivaric is the man coming on.
A bumper attendance in Sochi for today's game:
72 mins: Half-chance for Russia as Mario Fernandes corss from the right, Erokihin heads to meet it but it goes over. Russia's best spell for a while.
70 mins: Russia looking labored here. We spoke about the tiredness at the start of this half, it looks like their exertions against Spain and in the first half are catching up with them a tad.
This is how close Perisic was to giving Croatia the lead...
67 mins: Russia's goal-scoring hero Denis Cheryshev is coming off, making way for Fyodor Smolov.
The Russian striker has failed to fire at the tournament so far - now would be a good time to start.
Croatia have made their first change - the man who put them so close to going in front, Ivan Perisic, is off and Marcelo Brozovic is on.
65 mins: Russia are living dangerously here, Croatia are getting the ball in the box time after time, Russia scrambling clear but it's coming straight back.
62 mins: Russia respond to that scare by forging a chance for Artem Dzyuba, who leaps to meet a cross into the box, but it's straight at Subasic in the Croatian goal. Still level.
Chance! Unbelievably, Croatia somehow fail to take the lead. Perisic shoots inside the box after Russia fail to clear, but the ball hits the inside of the post and spins agonizingly across the line and then out. So, so close....
57 mins: Croatia are pressing a lot better this half. Russian attacks are breaking down time after time, although Croatian forays forward haven't amounted to much.
The crowd cranks up the volume for a moment, urging Russia on.
54 mins: Vrsaljko takes a knock as Cheryshev catches him late.
Meanwhile, Russia make their first change as Samedov makes way for Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Aleksandr Erokhin. Not a tactical change, just fresh legs.
52 mins: Andrej Kramaric tries an acrobatic overhead kick, but doesn't quite catch it right and Akinfeev scoops the ball up.
Russia's Denis Cheryshev is now on four goals for the tournament, behind only England's Harry Kane on six.
49 mins: Scrappy start to the second half, Croatia have a sniff during a scramble in the Russian box, but the danger is cleared. Neither team has settled again yet.
46 mins: Russia looked they did most of the running in that first half, so their fitness will be put to the test here. Then again, both teams played 120 minutes in their last 16 matches, so legs will tired all round as the second half wears on.
Second half: We're back underway at Fisht Stadium. No changes from either team at the break. Russia 1-1 Croatia.
Moments away from the second half in Sochi. An intrigiung, intense first half - who's got the will to win and book a place in the World Cup semi-finals?
STAT ATTACK
HALF TIME: All square at 1-1 in Sochi. Croatia have seen more of the ball, but Russia have looked dangerous. We're set for an intriguing second half.
2 minutes of added time here in Sochi. The first half has flown past.
That goal from Kramaric was Croatia's first shot on target of the game. The Hoffenheim man took it well.
42 mins: Russia look to fight back straight away, but Dzyuba is adjudged to have committed a foul in the box. Russia boss Stanislav Cherchesov was furious after the equalizer, and rightly so - why were his team so open at that back?
Mario Mandzukic crosses for Andrej Kramaric to head home. Straightforward goal as Russia were left exposed at the back. The goal came on 39 mins.
GOAL: Russia 1-1 Croatia
39 mins: Another booking for Croatia as Ivan Strinic goes in the book for pulling back Samedov.
35 mins: Good battle developing between Lovren and Dzyuba. The Croatian defender goes into the book after earning a yellow card for barging over Dzyuba. Croatia looking rattled.
Cometh the half-hour, cometh Denis Cheryshev. Well, 31 minutes to be precise.
But what a goal from Cheryshev, one of the sensations of this tournament for Russia.
That's his fourth of the World CUP after the double against the Saudis and one against Egypt. He also notched in the shootout against Spain. Revelation.
Denis Chreyshev with a stunner!!! He collects the ball near the half-way line, plays a one-two with Artem Dzyuba before curling a left-footed shot into the top corner.
Russia lead in Sochi!
GOAL!!! Russia 1-0 Croatia!!
28 mins: Chance for Croatia as Ivan Perisic stoops to meet a cross but heads wide of goal. Not troubling Akinfeev, but a decent effort nonetheless.
27 mins: Ivan Rakitic not finding his range so far as he hits a raking pass long and out of play. Decent start from the hosts so far, frustrating Croatia. Brazilian-born Mario Fernandes in particular is snuffing out a lot of Croatian passes.
25 mins: Most of Russia's play is being channeled through 22-year-old Aleksandr Golovin so far.
The CSKA Moscow midfielder has been linked to a move away from Russia after the World Cup, and would look at ease in any one of Europe's top leagues.
23 mins: Luka Modric dropping very deep in an effort to get on the ball for Croatia, much like Lionel Messi was often forced to do in Argentina's ill-fated Russian campaign. Keeping the Real Madrid man quiet will be key to Russia's chances tonight.
20 mins: Approaching mid-way through the first half here, neither side with a shot on target so far but it's been lively stuff.
19 mins: Viking hand clap rings out around the Fisht Stadium, just as Russia look to break down the left. The hosts making a lot of the running in this game so far, could be hard to sustain this pace.
16 mins: Croatia with a free-kick on the edge of the Russian box, Ivan Rakitic lines it up but curls the ball well over. You'd expect more from the Barca man there.
14 mins: Dzyuba breaks on the left and holds the ball up well as he waits for reinforcements, Aleksandr Samedov arrives but the danger is cleared by the retreating Croatian defence. Might be the pattern for the game as Russia look to hit them on the counter.
In the VIP sector: Russia's prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, Croatia president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, together with FIFA's Gianni Infantino, and retired Croatia legend Davor Suker, who played last time Croatia reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1998.
11 mins: Russia starting to sit deeper and deeper as Croatia have more of the ball. Russian win the ball back but give it away cheaply with some sloppy passing.
9 mins: Croatia enjoying about 70% of possession so far, starting to settle into the game.
6 mins: Russian 'keeper Igor Akinfeev called into action for the first time as Ante Rebic beats Fyodor Kudryashev on the right and fires a cross-turned-shot across the box, but Akinfeev saves well.
4 mins: Russia pressing intensely in the opening stages. Golovin makes space down the right and his cross falls to Dzyuba, who volleys into Dejan Lovren and the ball flies out.
2 mins: Nice link-up play from Russia, Aleksandr Golovin feeds Artem Dzyuba who lays it off to Denis Cheryshev breaking into the box, but his shot is blocked. Bright opening from the hosts.
Kick-off: We're underway for the World Cup quarter-final between Russia and Croatia!
Russia in their red, Croatia in their gothic-looking dark blue and black changed strip.
Full house at the Fisht Stadium with around 43,000 in attendance. Here's hoping for a scorcher in Sochi!
The anthems are sung, the players have lined up, we're moments from kick-off in Sochi...
ENGLAND AWAITS
The winners of tonight's game in Sochi face England in the semi-final in Moscow on Wednesday, after the Three Lions overcame Sweden 2-0 in Samara earlier.
RT host Peter Schmeichel has urged Three Lions fans not to get too carried away though - you can read about his reaction here:
CROATIA THE FAVORITES
Croatia head into tonight's game as most people's pick to progress.
They reached this stage after cruising through their group – dismantling Lionel Messi and Argentina 3-0 along the way – before seeing off Denmark on penalties in a nervy encounter in the last 16.
Their midfield is among the best at the tournament, with the playmaking mastery of Real Madrid’s Luka Modric and Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic.
They also have big Mario Mandzukic up front to pose the Russian backline problems.
RUSSIA’S UNLIKELY WORLD CUP RUN
Just a reminder about how the World Cup hosts reached this point.
They secured a shock penalty shootout win against Spain in the last 16, with goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev the hero with two saves.
Russia are in the knockout stages for the first time since not competing as part of the Soviet Union, and will look to keep their fairy tale World Cup run going.
The win against Spain sparked some epic celebrations across the country – should they do the same tonight, the party would be something to behold.
SOCHI
RT Sport’s Danny Armstrong is in Sochi for tonight’s game at Fisht Stadium on the Black Sea coast, and has been capturing the atmosphere ahead of kick-off.
Croatian fans are confident, Russians are honoring mustachioed manager Cherchesov.
HEAD TO HEAD
Russia have never beaten Croatia in three previous meetings between the pair. Croatia have won one, with the other two being draws.
Croatia reached the semi-finals in France in 1998, while Russia last did so as part of the Soviet Union in 1966.
TEAM NEWS
Let’s kick things off with some team news for you.
Russia boss Stanislav Cherchesov has made one change to the team which beat Spain, with veteran Yuri Zhirkov missing out due to a calf problem.
Denis Cheryshev, who has three World Cup goals to his name so far, comes into the team.
Russia have Artem Dzyuba leading the line up front again.
Croatia have made a single change from the team that beat Denmark on penalties in the last 16, with Andrej Kramaric starting in place of Marcelo Brozovic in midfield.
WELCOME
Welcome to RT Sport’s live updates on the World Cup quarter-final between Russia and Croatia in Sochi, where the hosts are bidding to continue their historic run at their home tournament.