The smallest nation ever to play in World Cup finals, Iceland have bowed out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup after going down fighting against Croatia 2-1 in their final group league game in Rostov-on-Don.

Croatia, who fielded an almost second-string squad after resting several of its key players before the knock out stage, secured first place in Group D thanks to their hard-fought win over the gallant debutants who needed a win to stay in contention for the second round berth while Argentina were taking on Nigeria at the same time in Saint Petersburg. Iceland suffered a blow in the second half of their do-or-die game when a slick volley by Milan Badelj clinched them the lead. 

The islanders, however, netted the equalizer through a penalty by Gylfi Sigurdsson. With the new entrants were pushing for a match-winner, the Croatians thwarted them before a late strike by Ivan Perisic sealed the game in favor of the eastern Europeans and helped them finish at the top of Group D ahead of the second-qualifier from the group, Argentina.

Earlier, France and Denmark were involved in the most unproductive game of this World Cup with both sides playing the first goalless draw of the tournament this year.

While France were already in the second round, Denmark needed a draw against Les Bleus in their final group league encounter. Pitted against an almost second-string French side, without six of their previous first XI players, the Danes played a drab draw with a safety-first approach and were well complimented by the French players to ensure that at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

In the end, the goalless draw was enough to send Denmark through as Group C runners-up behind Les Bleus who topped the standings on seven points - two clear of the Danes.

Both sides finished the group stages unbeaten, which means that France will play the runners-up of Group D, Argentina, on Saturday (June 30) in Kazan, with Denmark travelling to Nizhny Novgorod to play the Group D winners, Croatia, a day later.

Incidentally, Denmark would've gone out had they lost and Australia had beaten Peru by two goals in the other game being played at the same time in a different city. But the Socceroos bit the dust against an entertaining Peru, and thus made Denmark's passage to the knockout stages a formality.

It's the first time Denmark have reached the last 16 since 2002, while France make the knockout rounds for the third time in their last four World Cup campaigns.

(With input from agencies)