Fifa World Cup 2022: Croatia beat Japan in penalty shoot-out, ending Samurai Blue’s quarter-final dream
- The result marks an end to the Asian team’s remarkable run in Qatar, which saw them beat European heavyweights Germany and Spain
- Daizen Maeda put Japan ahead just before half-time, but Ivan Perisic brought Croatia level, with the tie producing the first penalty shoot-out of Qatar 2022
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Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero for Croatia, saving three penalties in the shoot-out as his side beat Japan to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday while Brazil were on course for a thumping win over South Korea.
Japan had already beaten European heavyweights Germany and Spain in Qatar and they looked on track to take down 2018 runners-up Croatia when Daizen Maeda put them ahead just before half-time.
But Ivan Perisic brought Croatia level in the 55th minute with an impressive header from Dejan Lovren’s cross and a hard-fought match became the first of this World Cup to go into extra-time.
When neither side could break the deadlock, the tie also produced the first penalty shoot-out of Qatar 2022.
It continued a remarkable pattern – seven of Croatia’s past eight knockout games at major tournaments have gone to extra time, the only exception being their defeat in the final by France in Russia four years ago.
In nail-biting tension, Livakovic saved the first two spot-kicks before stopping Maya Yoshida’s effort, then Mario Pasalic struck the winning penalty to send Croatia through.
Livakovic, the hero of the hour, said: “I don’t think they were difficult penalties to save, they weren’t perfect penalties, and thank God for that.”
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Japan fans devastated as Croatia beat Samurai Blue to reach World Cup quarter-finals
Croatia captain Luka Modric said: “It seems that we can’t do it without a drama.
“We are more than happy to reach the quarter-finals. It was a very difficult game against a very tough team.”
Japan forward Ritsu Doan gave a frank assessment of his country’s performance: “No matter how well we fought today, we didn’t change history.”
