Croatia beat hosts Russia 4-3 on penalties after the teams were level at 2-2 following extra time in their World Cup quarter-final and will meet England in the semi-finals.
The hosts, the lowest ranked nation in the tournament, were trying to make it to the World Cup semifinals for the first time since the Soviet Union team finished fourth at the 1966 tournament in England.
Croatia hadn’t advanced this far at the World Cup since the 1998 World Cup, which was its first appearance.
The quarterfinal at Sochi was tied 1-1 after regulation and 2-2 after extra time, forcing both Croatia and host Russia to a shootout for the second consecutive game.
Croatia defender Domagoj Vida had put them 2-1 ahead from a Luka Modric corner in the first period of extra time but Russia’s Mario Fernandes headed an equaliser with five minutes remaining, much to the delight of the partisan crowd at the Fisht Stadium on Saturday.
Denis Cheryshev’s swerving left-footer from the edge of the box had opened the scoring for Russia in the 31st minute of normal time but an unmarked Andrej Kramaric headed in a cross from Mario Mandzukic eight minutes later to restore parity.
Ivan Rakitic scored the winner from the spot as Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev dived the opposite direction. Akinfeev made on save during the shootout and nearly had another on Luka Modric, but the shot deflected off Akinfeev’s hand, off the post and into the net.
Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic made one save in the shootout, blocking Fedor Smolov’s attempt. He also watched Mario Fernandes shot miss the goal wide left in the third round.
Fernandes had been a hero for Russia earlier when his header in the 115th minute equalised and sent the match to penalties after Domagoj Vida’s goal in the 101st had given Croatia a 2-1 lead.
Croatia will play England, who earlier beat Sweden 2-0 in Samara, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday.
