The cheers within the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi were deafening as the game clock ticked past the 55th minute. Ivory Coast still held onto their slender 2-1 lead courtesy of Zachary's sensational 50th-minute goal.
Undeterred, the Croatians launched a series of attacks, desperately searching for an equalizer. Their pressure was relentless, and it seemed like an unending barrage of red and white shirts pushing forward for the next ten minutes.
The Ivorians, however, stood their ground with unwavering discipline. Their defenders, led by Eric Bailly and Serge Aurier, repelled wave after wave of Croatian assaults, defending like there was no tomorrow.
As for the midfield, Serey Dié, Franck Kessié, and the tireless Zachary tracked back, cutting out passes and blocking shots. The entire team was locked in, their focus sharpened by the knowledge that they were incredibly close to making history.
