World Cup diary, day 18: World’s best midfielders flatter to deceive in Nizhny

Football tournaments are very difficult to plan in advance, especially if you are on a budget.

Hotel prices rocket up for the short period, to take advantage of the increased demand, while flights and other modes of transportation simply fill up, leaving only expensive seats left.

Therefore, in a group that consisted of Croatia – who needed a play-off to qualify for the World Cup – as the main threat, Nigeria and tiny, tiny Iceland, Argentina fans, in their thousands, invested in tickets for the last-16 clash in Nizhny Novgorod, assuming that their side would win the group.

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Having not accounted for just how far they have declined as a footballing nation in recent years, the travelling Argentinians instead were treated to Croatia – who had put them to the sword in the group stages – against Denmark, who were so low in number I could not find a single one to interview pre-match.

When I finally did speak to a Dane on the main pedestrianised street, which was awash with colour, as it has been throughout the tournament, he informed me that there was only 150 or so Danes who had made the trip. Russia really did not appeal to many.

Having already taken the high speed train from Moscow – a short four-hour hop – I was in town in plenty of time. This has been one of my favourite host cities so far, as it does feel authentically Russian, while being welcoming rather than in-your-face trying to rip you off, or pushing tourist gimmicks.

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There was a great deal of excitement surround the actual game itself, too. Christian Eriksen v Luka Modric was the real draw, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both en route home, this was the next best “who’s better” debate. Surely at least one of them would pull something out of the bag in the magnificent Nizhny Novgorod stadium?

On the way in, late as usual, I could work out how well the Russians were doing from the roars from the apartments close by, and then, as I neared the stadium, with the penalty shootout with Spain in progress, it really was a sight to behold.

Policemen were dancing in the streets, Croatians, Danes and Argentinians were joining in, collectively roaring like nobody was watching.

The euphoria soon dispersed as Croatia and Denmark put on a damp squib of a match, Modric was misplacing pass after pass, before missing a penalty to win the match in extra time, while Eriksen was nowhere to be seen.

A penalty shootout is always exciting, but the quality, excellent goalkeeping aside, was really poor again.

The result means that one of England, Colombia, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia and Croatia will be in the World Cup final – incredible.

I know which one is getting everyone back home all hot under the collar, and why not. This Croatia side are, on paper, the best of that group, but they are nothing to be afraid of.

Yes they dismantled Argentina and won all three group games, but the Croatians are very immobile up front, and if Modric doesn’t deliver, there is not a great deal else. The Colombia clash is nearing – soon enough we will know if we even have to concern ourselves with Croatia’s strengths and weaknesses at all.