Croatia are through to the quarter-finals while Japan are heading home.Modric’s dream of winning the World Cup will live another day.
Croatia go through to the Quarter-finals on penalties! 🇭🇷@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2022
Japan took a deserved lead just before half-time through Maeda.Perisic headed the 2018 runners-up level in the second half.Croatia dominated the second half but could not force a winner.
✅ First extra time of #Qatar2022
✅ First penalties of #Qatar2022Watch all the action from Croatia's win over Japan on FIFA+
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2022
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic donned his cape and became the hero in the penalty shootout as his side came from behind to see off Japan and reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Livakovic saved three spot-kicks – from Takumi Minamino, Maya Yoshida and Kaoru Mitoma -to give his side a huge advantage in the shootout after the two sides could not be separated after 120 minutes and Mario Pasalic converted his kick to clinch a 3-1 victory for Croatia.
Japan, who beat Spain and Germany to finish top of Group E, produced an impressive first-half performance at Al Janoub Stadium and took the lead through Daizen Maeda after a well-worked short corner.
But Croatia’s experience shone through. Zlatko Dalic’s side had fallen behind in all three of their knockout matches on their way to the 2018 World Cup final and again they did not panic. A stunning header from Ivan Perisic drew them level and they looked more likely to find the winning goal.
Ivan Perisic has scored more goals at World Cups and European Championships combined than any other Croatia player (10).
In the end they did not need it, as Japan froze in the shootout and Croatia stood tall, Marcelo Brozovic and Nikola Vlasic converting their penalties before Pasalic sealed Japan’s fate.
Croatia have won their last three penalty shootouts at the World Cup, having beaten Denmark in the last 16 in and hosts Russia in the quarter-finals in the 2018 tournament.
Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic is the third goalkeeper to make three saves in a single World Cup penalty shootout after Portugal’s Ricardo in 2006 versus England and Croatia’s Danijel Subasic versus Denmark in 2018.
Player of the match: Dominik Livaković!
Bengali