World Cup

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 historyAndy Dillon SunSport
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
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BRAZIL are will play Croatia in the World Cup quarter-final thanks to a brilliant 4-1 win against South Korea. Vinicius Jr gave Tite’s side the lead with a cool finish inside the box after some early dominance in the game before Neymar coolly slotted home a penalty just a couple of minutes later.
Richarlison then rounded off a beautiful team goal soon after to put the Brazilians firmly in command, and Lucas Paqueta made it 4-0 moments after.
Paik Seung-ho pulled one back with a late stunner.

RESULT: Brazil 4-1 South Korea
Brazil XI: Alisson, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Eder Militao, Danilo, Paqueta, Casemiro, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Neymar, Richarlison
South Korea XI: Seung-Gyu; Jin-Su, Kim Min-Jae, Woo-Young, Moon-Hwan; Young-Gwon, Hwang Inbeom, Jae-Sung; Hwang Hee-Chan, Cho Gue-Sung, Son

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That’s all from Doha
A dancing and free-scoring Brazil sail into the quarter-finals after a statement win against South Korea.
They face Croatia next, who may well push training forward after watching that first half.
Thank you for reading. Goodnight!
Dad-dancing
Following Richarlison’s goal, the players gathered around manager Tite for their samba celebration.
It’s fair to say he didn’t have the rhythm of others, but a valiant effort from the 61-year-old.
Roy Keane was less than impressed with the moves, labelling it ‘disrespectful’ at half-time.
He went on to say: “I’ve never seen so much dancing… it was like watching Strictly!”
Credit: Reuters
Weverton makes history
Tite made a touching substitution when taking off keeper Alisson for third-choice Weverton during the second half.
But it wasn’t just a nice gesture. The substitution meant that Brazil have become the first ever nation to field 26 players at a World Cup.
All history counts!
Credit: Getty
Brazil hunting Silva-ware
Based on that performance, there is little surprise Brazil are the favourites to lift the trophy.
They were expressive, silky, but firm when they needed to be.
And skipper Thiago Silva was a part of it all this evening, rolling back the years in the green and yellow.
He led from the back, but was the calmest man in the house when setting up Richarlison for Brazil’s third.
A captain’s performance.

Warriors bow out
Paik’s 75th minute strike wasn’t enough to inspire a late Taiguk comeback this evening.
They matched Brazil in the second half but the damage was already done in the first.
In hind sight, Paulo Bento may regret the way he set up his players, but you’d worry for any team up against ‘that Brazil’.
Credit: Getty
From Phil Thomas at 974 Stadium
SunSport’s Phil Thomas was lucky enough to be in attendance this evening, and has this post-match report – enjoy!
When Richarlison said Brazil had ten celebration dance routines planned he clearly wasn’t joking.
And at one stage in this last 16 tie it seemed like we might get treated to them all in one evening.
As it is they settled for four. But had they really wanted to, you got the impression they could have reached double figures.
This was the World Cup Brazil we all dream of seeing. The one which took you back to flashes of Pele and Jairzinho, of Zico and Socrates, of Ronaldo and Rivaldo.
It was Harlem Globetrotters in boots. It was Now That’s What I Call Football It was the Beautiful Game like we hadn’t seen before in Qatar.
And it wasn’t just the goals – although some of them were mind-blowingly magnificent.
It was the side dishes like Neymar’s drag back which didn’t just confuse In Beam Hwang and Guesong Cho, it even had referee Clement Turpin going the wrong way.
At one stage the camera flashed to the VVIP section, and Brazilian legends Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu were looking down. Even they were in awe and applauding.
To think some people had doubted whether the current crop in the most famous football shirt of all were the real deal. Well doubt no more.
Six minutes was all it took to get the party started, courtesy of the man who can’t get a start in the day job at Spurs.
Raphinha put Hwang and namesake Heechan on their backsides with a delightful shimmy down the flank, before drilling a low cross into the box.
Proof, you could say, that two Hwangs don’t make it right.
Neymar – yes, the Greatest Showman made his return from damaged ankle ligaments – arrived and the 974 Stadium held its breath. Only to exhale at a side footed air shot.
No matter, for there, beyond the far post was the newest show-stealing member of the Selecao. The one they all reckon will be wearing Neymar’s crown before too long.
Maybe even before this tournament is over, given the cool, dead-eyed way VInicius jnr took a touch, had a look…and clipped it past four defenders and the keeper into the corner.
Cue dance routine number one, a little Samba line dance near the deadball line. They were only just getting their eye in and the toe-tapping warmed up.
Seven minutes later they were at it again, this time with a goal everyone – bar the little South Korean version of the Barmy Army behind one goal – wanted to see.
Richarlison’s speed of thought and fleet of foot got him in front of Woo Young Jung, and the Korean’s attempted boot clear was, instead, a boot to the back of a Brazilian.
Raphinha picked up the ball yet was almost waiting for Neymar to stroll up and take it off him. He duly did, to a delighted round of applause from his fans.
A stutter, a stagger, and keeper Seung Gyu Kim was on his knees as the ball almost apologetically rolled into the net.
Celebration no 2, a slight variation on the first, but definitely a different version. The best was still to come…in every respect.
For after half an hour we got the sort of moment which, if you had to come up with a caricature of all Brazil stand for, would be this.
Richarlison played head tennis to start it, before slipping it to Marquinhos, still lurking in the Korean box from a corner.
He pinged it to centre back pal Thiago Silva, whose instant touch teed up Richarlison to finish low beyond Kim.
This time the celebrations saw him race to the sidelines, where 61-year-old coach Tite joined in with a bizarre chicken dance. It was clucking marvellous.
Yet still they weren’t finished, and still we weren’t even at half time. This time Vini jr, scorer of the first, was creator of the fourth, with the most deliberate of stood-up deliveries.
Lucas Paqueta was in acres of space, buried his volley low into the corner, and set off on a solo Samba before his team-mates arrived to turn it into more of a convoluted conga.
It was mind-blowing…and for a Korean team looking ever heavy-legged from the hard-fought battle against Portugal three days earlier, it was merciless.
It was also a tad rub-their-noses-in-it when third-choice keeper Weverton – the only one in the squad without any action before last night – replaced Alisson for the last ten minutes.
Mind you, for all it was a done deal inside half an hour, Alisson did actually have to earn his money, with no less than FOUR stunning stops.
As it is, he was eventually beaten by a piledriver from substitute Seung Ho Paik, but by then it mattered not a jot.
It was game, set and match long before. The boys are definitely back in town…and Heavens, they’re going to take some stopping.Phil ThomasSunSport
FULL TIME – Brazil 4-1 South Korea
The referee blows his whistle and the Selecao dance on to the quarter finals where Croatia lay in waiting.
It was a first half of pure samba magic which saw the South American side put four on the board.
Neymar trudges on to the field carrying a banner of Brazilian legend Pele, who was watching from hospital today. I’m sure he will have enjoyed that one!
Credit: Getty
Brazil 4-1 South Korea
90+1, Hwang continues to to be a nuisance, in the best possible way, racing in between defenders and lashing a shot into the side netting. It’s been a brilliant effort from the South Korean players in the second half, a polar opposite from the first.
There will be four added minutes here.
Brazil 4-1 South Korea
88, Brazil knock it around, sizing up the opportunity.
They eventually work it to Martinelli who stands up a cross to the back-post where Alves was waiting.
he went for the spectacular, leaping off the turf and striking a bicycle kick into the back of Hong. Not bad athleticism for the ‘veteran’.
Brazil 4-1 South Korea
85, South Korea almost gift away a goal but the angle is tight against Rodrygo, who’s cross is cut out by Seung-Gyu.
Brazil 4-1 South Korea
83, South Korea continue to threaten late on.
Moon-Hwan slides in Lee Kang-In who drags his effort wide of the mark.
The Taiguk Warriors have done themselves proud this second half.
Brazil 4-1 South Korea
79, Cho is played in behind, and once again Alisson is there, saving from point-blank range.
The flag is then frustratingly raised and that will be both players’ last contribution.
Cho, who has grown immensely in popularity this tournament, departs for Hwang Ui-Jo.
Alisson makes way for third-choice Weverton, the only Brazilian yet to feature. A nice touch from Tite.
Rodrygo is also on for Neymar.
GOAL! – Brazil 4-1 South Korea
75, Paik with a screamer!
The ball bounced kindly to the substitute who hit it beautifully on the half-volley. On the replays, it looked to take a tiny deflection, but fantastic technique nonetheless.
South Korea have their consolation, and they are winning the second half!

Brazil 4-0 South Korea
73, Richarlison is penalised for a body-check on his man and South Korea make a change.
Lee Kang-In is on for Lee Jae-Sung.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
72, Danilo and Vinicius are of for Selecao.
Bremer and Martinelli are on for the last 20 minutes or so.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
67, Alisson to the rescue again!
The Liverpool man gets a strong right hand to Hwang’s shot before Son is denied twice by a heroic Dani Alves block.
For a game that has been all about Brazil’s forwards, Alisson has produced an excellent performance in the sticks.
On another day, South Korea could have got a couple of goals.
Credit: Reuters
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
65, Raphinha is in again and cuts it back for Richarlison who can’t connect with the shot.
The flag is then raised for an offside in the build up.
The game has slowed, no doubt about it. Brazil will just want to keep everyone fit now.
Brazilian fans hold a banner showing the Brazilian soccer legend Pele with the message Get well soonCredit: AP
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
64, In-Beom looks tired as he departs, applauding the fans as he gos.
Paik is on.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
62, Raphinha’s shot is saved!
Casemiro escapes trouble with a back-heel on the edge of his own area and Brazil surge forward.
Neymar slides in Raphinha who does his man for pace before cannoning an effort at the legs of Seung-Gyu from a tight angle.
Meanwhile, veteran Dani Alves is on for Militao.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
59, Brazil can’t make the corner count and South Korea counter through Son, who is hunted down and fouled on the half-way line.
Hwang combines with In-Beom but Militao is there to evert the danger.
Credit: EPA
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
56, Jae-Sung has a nibble at Neymar’s heels and concedes the free-kick.
Raphinha’s effort takes a nick off the wall and it’s a corner ball.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
54, Raphinha denied by Seung-Gyu!
The Barcelona man wriggles one way then the next before bending a low shot on target.
Seung-Gyu gets down really well to parry it wide.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
51, South Korea are playing some nice intricate football but Militao shepherds the ball out for a goal-kick.
Some Brazilian legends including Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Ronaldo are then shown on the big screen. Each one brimming with pride.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
49, Casemiro cuts through South Korea with a defence-splitting pass.
He finds Raphinha who wins a corner, from which comes nothing.
Brazil 4-0 South Korea
46, One long ball up field and Son is in.
He gets the right side of Marquinhos and curls one towards the corner.
Alisson hadn’t switched off and made himself big to deny the Tottenham man.
Credit: Getty
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