After Mario Mandzukic's goal, which sealed Croatia's 2-1 victory over England and secured their first-ever World Cup final appearance, a photographer was crushed by the players during the celebration at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
In their fifth World Cup participation, Croatia emerged victorious in the tight duel with goals from Ivan Perisic at the 68th minute and Mandzukic at the 109th. Kevin Trippier had given the 'Three Lions' the lead with a spectacular free kick in the 5th minute.
After Croatia's second goal, television images captured the precise moment when a photographer was in the wrong place and got knocked down by all the players, who, caught up in the euphoria and agony of the moment, didn't notice his presence.
The photographer in question is Yuri Cortez, from El Salvador, who works for the AFP Mexico agency.
With the victory, the team led by Zlatko Dalic, 51 years old, surpassed the one led by Davor Suker, Zvonimir Boban, and Robert Prosinecki, who finished third in France 1998 in Croatia's first-ever World Cup after the country's independence seven years prior.
Croatia suffered the unexpected to level the game that the 'Pross' had under control, until they allowed themselves a moment of distraction that ignited the fury of the 'Vatreni'.
The photographer's statements