
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero, saving three penalties within the shootout, as Croatia edged previous Japan with a 3-1 victory to succeed in the World Cup quarter-finals.
After a 1-1 draw at further time, Livakovic saved out the primary two efforts earlier than stopping Maya Yoshida’s kick, then Mario Pasalic tucked his penalty into the nook to take his aspect by.
Zlatko Dalic’s aspect, overwhelmed within the remaining by France 4 years in the past, will face match favourites Brazil or South Korea within the subsequent spherical on Friday (15:00 GMT).
Japan had been the livelier aspect and took a deserved lead two minutes earlier than half-time when Celtic ahead Daizen Maeda transformed from Yoshida’s knock down.
Croatia levelled within the second half courtesy of Ivan Perisic’s good bullet header from Dejan Lovren’s cross, turning into his nation’s all-time main scorer at main tournaments with 10 objectives.
Neither aspect may discover a breakthrough and the sport ticked into the extra half-hour, with Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma’s spectacular strike pushed over by Livakovic.
On the different finish, Marko Livaja’s flicked header looping in, however Shuichi Gonda managed to collect and Lovro Majer dragged a shot within the a hundred and twentieth minute.
The competition went to nerve-shredding penalties, the place Livakovic emerged as the person to guide Croatia’s celebrations.
Skilled Croatia finish Japan’s dream
Croatia simply know get it executed.
In 2018, after they virtually lifted the trophy, they emerged from further time with a win in every of their knockout video games earlier than dropping within the remaining.
Of their final eight knockout video games on the World Cup and Euros, seven have gone to further time except their match in opposition to France.
They failed to attain in two of their three group video games however have demonstrated their huge expertise to progress to the final eight.
It did not begin properly although, as Shogo Taniguchi got here near netting for Japan in solely the third minute however flicked his header broad.
Daichi Kamada was trying to end off a slick workforce transfer however ended up skewing his shot out for a throw-in from six yards out. They obtained the breakthrough courtesy of Maeda’s poaching effort from shut vary.
Croatia, although, hit again by Perisic’s header as he moved previous Davor Suker’s 9 objectives at main tournaments. Solely the legendary striker has scored extra worldwide objectives for the nation, with 45 to Perisic’s 33.
The Tottenham participant may have netted when Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu’s miscued a backpass, which allowed his north London rival to run in on purpose, however a shot from the angle was batted out by Gonda.
Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic hooked broad and Luka Modric’s dipping effort was pushed over by Gonda at full stretch.
Croatia wanted somebody to face up and Livakovic stopped efforts from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Yoshida to develop into simply the third goalkeeper to avoid wasting three penalties in a shootout on the World Cup.
For Japan, their dream got here to finish on the spherical of 16 as soon as extra, failing to progress past this stage in all 4 World Cup appearances.
Participant of the match
LivakovicDominik Livakovic
Line-ups
Japan
Formation 3-4-3
- 12Gonda
- 16Tomiyasu
- 22Yoshida
- 3Taniguchi
- 14Ito
- 6Endo
- 13MoritaSubstituted forTanakaat 105′minutes
- 5NagatomoSubstituted forMitomaat 64′minutes
- 8DoanSubstituted forMinaminoat 87′minutes
- 25MaedaSubstituted forAsanoat 64′minutes
- 15KamadaSubstituted forH Sakaiat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Kawashima
- 2Yamane
- 7Shibasaki
- 9Mitoma
- 10Minamino
- 17Tanaka
- 18Asano
- 19H Sakai
- 20Machino
- 21Ueda
- 23Schmidt
- 24Soma
- 26Ito
Croatia
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Livakovic
- 22Juranovic
- 6Lovren
- 20Gvardiol
- 3BarisicBooked at 116mins
- 10ModricSubstituted forMajerat 99′minutes
- 11Brozovic
- 8KovacicBooked at 90minsSubstituted forVlasicat 99′minutes
- 9KramaricSubstituted forPasalicat 68′minutes
- 16PetkovicSubstituted forBudimirat 62′minutesSubstituted forLivajaat 105′minutes
- 4PerisicSubstituted forOrsicat 105′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Erlic
- 7Majer
- 12Grbic
- 13Vlasic
- 14Livaja
- 15Pasalic
- 17Budimir
- 18Orsic
- 21Vida
- 23Ivusic
- 24Sutalo
- 25Sucic
- 26Jakic
Referee:Ismail Elfath
Attendance:42,523
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Match ends, Japan 1(1), Croatia 1(3).
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Penalty Shootout ends, Japan 1(1), Croatia 1(3).
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Purpose! Japan 1(1), Croatia 1(3). Mario Pasalic (Croatia) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Penalty saved! Maya Yoshida (Japan) fails to capitalise on this nice alternative, proper footed shot saved within the backside left nook.
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Penalty missed! Nonetheless Japan 1(1), Croatia 1(2). Marko Livaja (Croatia) hits the left publish with a proper footed shot.
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Purpose! Japan 1(1), Croatia 1(2). Takuma Asano (Japan) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside proper nook.
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Purpose! Japan 1, Croatia 1(2). Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the centre of the purpose.
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Penalty saved! Kaoru Mitoma (Japan) fails to capitalise on this nice alternative, proper footed shot saved within the backside left nook.
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Purpose! Japan 1, Croatia 1(1). Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Penalty saved! Takumi Minamino (Japan) fails to capitalise on this nice alternative, proper footed shot saved within the centre of the purpose.
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Penalty Shootout begins Japan 1, Croatia 1.
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Second Half Further Time ends, Japan 1, Croatia 1.
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Try missed. Lovro Majer (Croatia) proper footed shot from outdoors the field misses to the left. Assisted by Mislav Orsic.
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Try blocked. Mislav Orsic (Croatia) proper footed shot from the left aspect of the field is blocked. Assisted by Marcelo Brozovic.
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Borna Barisic (Croatia) is proven the yellow card for a foul foul.
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Foul by Borna Barisic (Croatia).
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Junya Ito (Japan) wins a free kick on the correct wing.
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Try saved. Marko Livaja (Croatia) header from the centre of the field is saved within the prime centre of the purpose. Assisted by Josip Juranovic.
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Nook, Croatia. Conceded by Junya Ito.
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Lovro Majer (Croatia) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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