FIFA World Cup Europe Play-Off: Croatia 2 Iceland 0 (2-0 agg)

Goals from Mario Mandzukic and Darijo Srna saw 10-man Croatia return to the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 play-off win over Iceland in Zagreb.

Croatia – who failed to qualify for the 2010 showpiece – chose the perfect occasion to snap a home winless run that stretched back nearly eight months on Tuesday, as coach Niko Kovac – taking charge of just his second match – saw his side step up to reach next year’s finals in Brazil.

After a goalless draw in Friday’s first leg in Reykjavik, Croatia claimed the ascendancy when Mandzukic produced a composed back-post finish in the 27th minute.

The striker was given a straight red card before the break though, for a crude challenge on Johann Gudmundsson, as Iceland entered half-time with hope.

However, those dreams were dashed just two minutes after the resumption as Srna’s first-time strike from just inside the penalty area beat Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson from an acute angle.

Iceland, who were hoping to become the nation with the smallest population ever to reach a FIFA World Cup, tired after the second goal and they were only kept in the game by Halldorsson, as their stunning run through qualification came to an end.

Both sides made two changes, as Ivica Olic and Mateo Kovacic came in for Croatia, while for the visitors, Birkir Saevarsson and Eidur Gudjohnsen replaced the suspended Olafur Skulason and the injured Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.

Kovacic blasted over from the edge of the area in the first minute, and although Iceland had the ball in the back of the net, Alfred Finnbogason was flagged for offside well before finishing.

A Luka Modric effort – which deflected wide – began a sustained spell of pressure from the hosts, as they had penalty claims for handball against Ari Skulason denied and Srna forced Halldorsson into an excellent save from a free-kick.

Mandzukic then gave Croatia the lead, as Ivan Rakitic’s ball in from the left was flicked towards goal by Ivan Perisic, with the Bayern Munich forward well placed to stab in from close range.

Olic then wasted a free header, nodding Srna’s cross over the crossbar, before Halldorsson had to be alert to keep out an effort that deflected off Skulason and was creeping into the bottom corner.

Mandzukic’s red card threatened to turn the match on its head, but Srna eased those fears with his goal just after half-time, as he benefited from a mazy Kovacic run before thrashing an effort home.

Kovacic then embarked on another excellent run but saw his effort saved by the outstretched foot of Halldorsson, before Olic saw his volley from a corner smack the underside of the crossbar.

Perisic was the next to be thwarted by the Iceland goalkeeper when presented with a one-on-one opportunity.

Halldorsson was on top form, and he came to the rescue again to deny Daniel Pranjic with 15 minutes to go, but two goals were enough as Croatia sealed their place in Brazil.