The Zagreb Fire Department has released a video showing the moment they were called out to an emergency, just seconds before Ivan Rakitic’s match-winning penalty that sent Croatia through to the World Cup semi-finals against England.

Croatia have depended on penalties to get through both the last-16 and the quarter-finals, with Denmark and Russia falling by the wayside in the narrowest of defeats.

For most of the eastern European nation, Rakitic’s triumphant effort was the cue for wild celebrations as Croatia reached the last-four for just the second time in their history, putting them a potential 90 minutes away from a first ever World Cup final.

Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Show all 25 1 /25 Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Croatia's players celebrate winning the penalty shootout during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Russia and Croatia at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on July 7, 2018. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Russia SOCHI, RUSSIA - JULY 07: Russia players watch the penalty shoot out during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Russia and Croatia at Fisht Stadium on July 7, 2018 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Igor Akinfeev - 5.5 out of 10 Could do nothing about Croatia’s equaliser and the second goal was right in the corner, both goals weren't his fault. AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Mario Fernandes - 8 Came forward on the overlap with great pace and defended strongly against Mandzukic, scored the equaliser in extra time to take it to penalties. AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Ilja Kutepov - 5 Communication was lacking with Ignashevich at the back and defended way too deep in the second half, allowing Croatia to come at Russia repeatedly. AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Sergey Ignashevich - 5 Didn’t close Mandzukic down properly and gave him too much space which led to the equaliser. Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Fyodor Kudryashov - 6 Made some good clearances when the ball came in from the wings and came forward to give Russia options out wide AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Daler Kuzyaev - 5 Had a very quiet game especially in the second half when Russia couldn’t get the ball forward quick enough AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Roman Zobnin - 5.5 Created some chances in the first half but got held back in the second as he was asked to defend more. FIFA via Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Alexander Samedov - 5.5 Ran into space when Russia had an attack, was quick on the counter and unlucky not to have a better chance on goal FIFA via Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Alexander Golovin - 6 Started the second half strongly winning the ball in mid-field but Russia had too few attacks for him to make a difference Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Denis Cheryshev - 7 Scored the first goal with a spectacular left-footed strike and worked well with Dzyuba Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Artyom Dzyuba - 6 Was great up front for Russia, he got into space, held the ball up well, used his body to block defenders and set up Cheryshev for the first goal. Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Croatia SOCHI, RUSSIA - JULY 07: Croatia players look on from the half way line during the penalty shoot out during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Quarter Final match between Russia and Croatia at Fisht Stadium on July 7, 2018 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Danijel Subasic - 5.5 Hardly had a chance to save the first goal but could have made a better effort to save it, perhaps stood too far off his line, made some great saves in extra time when Russia tried to level things. Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Sime Vrsaljko - 6 Got forward well and created chances with balls into the box, kept Russia quiet when they came down the left-hand side as well. AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Dejan Lovren - 5 Got a yellow card in the first-half for a poor challenge but defended well after the first gaol went in. Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Domagoj Vida - 7 Made two or three good blocks in defence when Russia looked threatening on the counter attack and scored the second goal from a corner in extra time. Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Ivan Strinic - 5 Loved to get forward which meant he left gaps at the back and Fernandes was able to get in behind him on multiple occasions. AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Luka Modric - 7 Worked extremely hard in the second half to recover the ball up the pitch, he placed lots of balls out wide and got himself in areas to shoot. His corner found Vida to give Croatia the winner. Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Ivan Rakitic - 7 Had his best chance from a free kick which he put high and wide, poor defending from him and Modric, led to the first goal. He kept pushing in the second half and scored the winning penalty to send Croatia through . Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Ante Rebic - 6 Was the driving force behind Croatia’s attacking players, early on he had a shot blocked and a header went wide but he created chances when Croatia looked slow and sluggish. Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Andrej Kramaric - 7 Scored the equaliser for Croatia, he found space in the box and finished his header clinically. Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Ivan Perisic - 5.5 Got into the box on numerous occasions and almost scored the opening goal when his header just went wide. AFP/Getty Images Russia vs Croatia: Player ratings Mario Mandzukic - 7 Made a great run into space on the right that led to the equaliser, his cross found Kramaric perfectly, but he did little else in front of goal. AFP/Getty Images

But for the firefighters of the Zagreb Fire Department, the unthinkable happens.

Just as Rakitic makes his way towards the penalty area, the alarm goes off to send them into immediate organised chaos. Sprinting to their equipment, the firemen suit up while the fire engines roar into life, and within second they’re out the door and on their way.

Three men are left behind having done their bit in deploying the fire engines, and get back to the television that the men were huddled around just in time to enjoy the wild celebrations just as Rakitic’s penalty is buried into the Russian net.

Ivan Rakitic celebrates his winning moment (Getty) (Getty Images)