Croatia flies to quarterfinals: Japan surrenders on penalties

The hero is Livakovic, who saves three penalties

Croatia suffers against Japan but manages to snatch a pass to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar thanks to shots from the eleven meters: decisive was Croatian and Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who saves three penalties out of the four kicked by the Asian players.

The beginning of the match is balanced: both national teams manage to make themselves dangerous by keeping the pace high. In the second half of the first half, Dalic’s men take the reins of the game into their own hands, repeatedly going close to the lead, found, however, in the 43rd by the Nipponese, thanks to Maeda’s goal as an area raptor. The players returned to the locker room on the score of 1-0 for Moriyasu’s men.

In the second half, Dalic’s players immediately set off with great intensity to even the score: Ivan Perisic succeeded with a great cross from Lovren’s cross. After the Tottenham midfielder scored, the pace dropped and the only chances came at the feet of Modric, who engaged Gonda, and once again Perisic. At the end of the four-minute recovery, the result still stands at 1-1 and the referee sends Croatia and Japan into extra time.

Very tired teams in the extra time: Japan knocks on Livakovic’s door with Mitoma in the first 15 additional minutes, while in the 121st it is Mayer who troubles the Asian goalkeeper.

It’s the penalty shootout that decides the round of 16: among the 2018 vice world champions, Livaja misses, but the mistake is irrelevant because defending extreme Livakovic hypnotizes Minamino, Mitoma and Yoshida. Croatia will face the winner between Brazil and South Korea in the quarterfinals.