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ZAGREB, Croatia -- Ten-man Croatia qualified for the World Cup with a 2-0 win on Tuesday that quashed Icelands hopes of reaching footballs showpiece tournament for the first time. Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match. But the home team maintained its attacking dominance and Darijo Srna made it 2-0 in the 47th. The defeat ended Icelands bid to become the smallest nation -- in terms of population -- to reach the World Cup finals. Croatia, a semifinalist in 1998, qualified for its fourth World Cup since becoming an independent state in 1991. "Croatia deserved to win," Iceland defender Ragnar Sigurdsson said. "It was the better team, especially today, and there is no doubt it deserves to go to Brazil. We felt it might go better for us after Mandzukic was sent off, but we did not get any space on the pitch." Last Friday in Reykjavik, Iceland overcame the second-half red card of Olafur Skulason to hold on for the 0-0 draw against Croatia, keeping the Nordic nation in contention for a spot at Brazil in 2014. But on Tuesday, Iceland had few chances against an inspired Croatian team. "Pressure was huge, this was not easy game to play," Croatia coach Niko Kovac said. "But at the end, it could have easily been 5-0." Croatia took the lead when Ivan Rakitic crossed from the right, Ivan Perisic deflected the ball in the heart of the penalty box, creating a clear opportunity for Mandzukic to finish with a low shot into the near corner. Bayern Munich striker Mandzukic was shown a straight red card after a tackle with his studs up against Johann Gudmundsson, and that changed Croatias tactical approach for the rest of the game. With Iceland going into an all-out attack, Croatia resorted to counter-attacks. Captain Srna doubled the lead two minutes into the second half when his shot from some 18 metres (yards) from the right bounced in front of Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldersson and ended up in the left corner of the goal. "We were focused throughout the playoffs and it was worth it," Srna said. "We had no right to disappoint our fans. Mandzukics sending off only gave us the wind in our backs." Openings in Icelands defence only created more chances for the Croats. Ivica Olic hit the crossbar with a spectacular overhead shot and Perisic failed to convert a one-on-one situation against the Iceland goalkeeper. "We are really happy to make it to the World Cup," Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric said. "Iceland was tough to play against, but we were a better team in the playoffs." Iceland was surprisingly unbeaten in its last five games on the road in these World Cup qualifications. "Croatia was a better and more experienced opponent and showed its strength," Iceland veteran striker Eidur Gudjohnsen said. "Still, we have to be proud of what we have done in this World Cup campaign." Frank Robinson Jersey . A question that was repeatedly posed last season, and the season before that and in the 2011 campaign before that. Roberto Alomar Jersey . So much so that even a simple foul pop up to the first baseman turned into a run. Houstons four-run rally in the ninth inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Monday night was capped by a bizarre play that started as Crowe fouled out to first baseman Justin Smoak with runners on second and third. http://www.theoriolesteamshop.com/Orioles-Brooks-Robinson-Kids-Jersey/ . Last year, Matt Kuchar closed with a 4-under 68 to beat Kevin Chappell by two strokes for his second win of the 2013 season and sixth of his career. Joey Rickard Jersey . Rinehart joins safety Darrell Stuckey and linebacker Donald Butler as potential unrestricted free agents who are remaining with the team. Custom Baltimore Orioles Jerseys .com) - The Hatch Attack is back in the Southern Conference.Chris Del Bosco entered this weeks World Cup skicross competitions in France knowing that a podium appearance would probably lock up a spot on the Canadian team for the Winter Olympics. He won gold Thursday in a weather-hampered event at Val Thorens, but he likely needs to do more to book his ticket to Sochi. The race was halted due to high winds and Del Bosco was given the victory based on his qualification results and win in his first heat. However, hell need to return to the podium Friday to really strengthen his chances for inclusion on the Sochi roster. "I definitely felt like I could have kept going, it was kind of frustrating because you want to win by winning the final but it was out of my control," Del Bosco said in a release. "Theres not really any more I could have done. "It was getting down to crunch time and I knew what I needed to do. I needed to podium. Sochi qualification is kind of a grey area. I dont really know how that works — Im going to just regroup here and get ready to give er again tomorrow." The second of back-to-back World Cup events will be held Friday at the same venue. The Olympic qualification window for skicross closes Sunday, so it will be the last chance for Canadians to qualify for nomination. The qualification process is very complicated and there are several freestyle events on tap this week. The selection committee will analyze all the results and data on Sunday and formally announce their decision the next morning. There are 26 spots available in the five disciplines that fall under the freestyle skiing umbrella —skicross, slopestyle, aerials, moguls and halfpipe — and there can be no more than 14 selections from either gender. The committee will look at results from previous years but performances this season have the biggest impact. For Del Bosco, all he can do is try again Friday and hope for the best. The 2011 world champion and X Games gold medallist has struggled of late and now has loads of pressure on him for the stretch drive. The 31-year-old Montreal resident finished second in the testt event in Sochi last season but his best result prior to this week was a 15th-place finish in Innichen-San Candido, Italy.dddddddddddd His victory Thursday didnt really offer much sway because he only raced one heat. "Chris is probably one of the most interesting and difficult situations," said Canadian Freestyle Ski Association CEO Peter Judge from Park City, Utah. "But certainly hes helping his cause today and hopefully hell get one more good go at it tomorrow and be able to remove all doubt." Sanna Luedi of Switzerland took gold in the womens competition Thursday. Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., was the top Canadian in fourth to retain her hold on the red bib as overall leader. The depth of the national skicross team and the Canadian freestyle team as a whole leaves athletes who are on the bubble in a tough spot. Some very talented competitors arent going to make the cut because Canada is stacked in several events. Del Bosco competed at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, where skicross made its Olympic debut. He made the final heat of four skiers but crashed just before the finish while making a late push to move into a better position. A spokesman for FIS, the sports governing body, said in an email that Del Boscos victory Thursday would be treated just like any other result on the World Cup circuit, regardless of whether the race was cut short due to weather. That gives Del Bosco 100 points and moves him to 11th place in the World Cup standings. Dave Duncan of London, Ont., was seventh. He slipped to second in the mens overall standings, falling behind Andreas Matt of Austria. Tristan Tafel of Canmore, Alta., was 15th on Thursday and Brady Leman of Calgary was 18th. Georgia Simmerling of West Vancouver, B.C., was sixth in the womens event. Kelsey Serwa, the 2011 world champion from Kelowna, B.C., was seventh in the first qualification round but didnt start her heat. Thompson is the only Canadian who has met the qualification criteria for nomination to the Sochi team. Duncan, Leman and Serwa are considered virtual locks for inclusion. ' ' '