CROATIA are through to the World Cup quarter-finals after Japan missed THREE penalties in the shootout.
Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalties in the first shootout at this World Cup as his side won 3-1 on pens after the match ended 1-1.
Celtic star Daizen Maeda had fired Japan ahead on the stroke of half-time.
But Spurs ace Ivan Perisic equalised with a fine header early in the second half of the crunch clash.
- Result: Croatia 1-1 Japan (3-1 on pens)
- Japan XI: Gonda, Taniguchi, Endo, Doan, Morita, Nagatomo, J. Ito, Kamada, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Maeda
- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Barisic, Perisic, Lovren, Kovacic, Kramaric, Modric, Brozovic, Petkovic, Gvardiol, Juranovic
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That’s all from Qatar
Croatia have punched their ticket to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals after winning the first penalty shootout of the year in Qatar.
The Croats drew 1-1 with Japan before beating them 3-1 on penalties.
The Japanese broke the deadlock at the Al Janoub Stadium on 43 minutes when Wataru Endo’s cross was met by a touch from captain Maya Yoshida that set Daizen Maeda up for the opening goal.
Croatia equalised after 55 minutes when Dejan Lovren’s pinpoint cross from the right was met by Ivan Perisic at the far post and the Tottenham star beat Shuichi Gonda with an amazing header.
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic then removed star players Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and captain Luka Modric as the game went to penalties.
But Dominik Livakovic put together a stunning performance as he denied three spot-kicks by Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Yoshida to send his country through to the quarter-finals.
Mario Pasalic took on the crucial penalty to send his country through to a quarter-final clash between Brazil or South Korea.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a great night!
Credit: Rex Croatia’s penalty heroes
Croatia’s penalty success continued in the World Cup when they beat Japan 3-1 in tonight’s shootout.
The Croats have now won all three of their penalty shootouts in the competition.
The first two were against Denmark and Russia in 2018, on their way to the final.
Now they await to see who they will face in the final with the possible opponents being Brazil and South Korea
Credit: Getty Livakovic makes history
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic caught three penalties during the shootout against Japan to send his country through to the quarter-finals.
Livakovic is the third keeper to make three saves in a single World Cup penalty shootout.
That is after Portugal’s Ricardo in 2006 against England, which saw the Three Lions going out in the quarter-finals.
Livakovic also emulated fellow Croatian Danijel Subasic, who did the same against Denmark in 2018
Credit: Getty
Word from the ground
Here’s what SunSport’s man on the field Andy Dillon makes of Croatia’s dramatic victory over Japan:
The boys from Zzzzzzzzagreb did it again.
World football’s ultimate grinders secured a quarter-final spot after wearing down Japan to the point of submission on penalties.
It is becoming something of a habit for the Croatians to go all the way in a battle of wills to see who cracks first.
Three successive matches at the last World Cup went to extra time and two went to spot kicks with them emerging victorious both times.
Six out of seven of Croatia’s last knockout games have gone the full 120 minute distance.
Two of their three Group F games this year were also goalless draws as they shuffled through into the last 16.
While the football may not be the highest quality or the most entertaining, coach Zlatko Dalic must be applauded for instilling the mental toughness in his team to never say die.
Keeper Dominik Likakovic in particular showed nerves of steel to save three penalties during the final shootout as the Japanese wilted under the pressure of chasing history
Andy Dillon
What’s next for Croatia?
Croatia are through to the quarter-finals after beating Japan 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
The Croats will now have to wait to find out their opponents in the next round.
Zlatko Dalic’s men will take on either Brazil or South Korea on December 9 at the Education City Stadium.
The Selecao and the South Koreans meet tonight at 7pm GMT
Credit: PA Japan vs Croatia stats
Croatia dominated 58 per cent of possession in 120 minutes of football.
The Croats registered a total of 17 shots, but only four of them were on target.
Japan, on the other hand, produced 13 shots, but only four of them were on target as well.
More below:
FT: Japan 1-1 Croatia (1-3 on pens)
Croatia have punched their ticket to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals after winning the first penalty shootout of the year in Qatar.
Japan broke the deadlock at the Al Janoub Stadium on 43 minutes when Wataru Endo’s cross was met by a touch from captain Maya Yoshida that set Daizen Maeda up for the opening goal.
The Croats equalised after 55 minutes when Dejan Lovren’s pinpoint cross from the right was met by Ivan Perisic at the far post and the Tottenham star beat Shuichi Gonda with an amazing header.
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic then removed star players Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and captain Luka Modric as the game went to penalties.
But Dominik Livakovic put together a stunning performance as he denied spot-kicks by Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Yoshida to send his country through to the quarter-finals.
Mario Pasalic took on the crucial penalty that led to a 3-1 victory in the shoot-out
Credit: Getty Credit: AP Japan 1-1 Croatia
1-3
Pasalic scores!!! Croatia are through!!!!!
Japan 1-1 Croatia
1-2
Pasalic to send Croatia through…
Japan 1-1 Croatia
1-2
Livakovic denies Yoshida!!! What a game!!!
Japan 1-1 Croatia
1-2
Yoshida next for Japan
Japan 1-1 Croatia
1-2
Livaja hits the post!!!
Japan 1-1 Croatia
1-2
Croatia are next with Livaja
Japan 1-1 Croatia
1-2
Japan finally score with Asano!!!
Japan 1-1 Croatia
0-2
Brozovic scores for Croatia!!!
Japan 1-1 Croatia
0-1
LIVAKOVIC DENIES MITOMA!!!!
Japan 1-1 Croatia
0-1
Vlasic scores for Croatia!!!
Japan 1-1 Croatia
0-0
Livakovic denies Minamino!!!
The Croatian goalie lunges to his left to deny the striker
Japan 1-1 Croatia
0-0
Japan start with Minamino
FT: Japan 1-1 Croatia
Here’s a reminder of how it all went down to penalties:
Japan opened the scoring at the Al Janoub Stadium on 43 minutes when Wataru Endo’s cross was met by a touch from captain Maya Yoshida that set Daizen Maeda up for the goal.
Croatia equalised after 55 minutes when Dejan Lovren’s pinpoint cross from the right was met by Ivan Perisic at the far post and the Tottenham star beat Shuichi Gonda with an amazing header.
Time for penalties now!
Credit: Getty FT: Japan 1-1 Croatia
Peep!
Off to penalties in Qatar!!!
120+1 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Chance!
Croatia almost score a winner as Majer’s shot just misses Gonda’s bottom right corner
120 Japan 1-1 Croatia
One more minute before penalties…
Unless someone actually manages to score the winner somehow
118 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Croatia continue to dominate possession as we approach full time.
What an amazing game by Gvardiol who has been rock solid at the back, no wonder everyone wants to sign him
116 Japan 1-1 Croatia
Yellow card
Another booking for Croatia as Barisic is cautioned with a late challenge on Ito
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
