Stephen Dunmoye
Croatia defeated Japan in a penalty shootout 3-1 after the game ended in a draw at the regulation time to qualify to quarter final in their clash on Monday.
Croatia Keeper, Dominik Livakovic’s penalty saves gave the Croatians quarter final tickect as he saved three from Japan penalties.
Daizen Maeda gave Japan a half-time lead and Ivan Perisic headed home an equaliser for the 2018 runners-up before goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three of four penalties as Croatia won the shoot-out 3-1.
Japan’s clash with Croatia went to a penalty shoot-out after the two sides finished extra-time deadlocked at 1-1.
Daizen Maeda fired Japan ahead on 43 minutes before 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia levelled through Ivan Perisic in the 55th minute.
Japan, trying to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history, aimed to claim another big European scalp after beating Germany and Spain in the group stage in Qatar.
“They gave us a hard game, but we knew that would be the case, it’s not coincidence that they beat Germany and Spain,” said Nikola Vlasic.
“We had more chances and I think we deserved to win.”
Japan’s bid to reach the last eight for the first time in their history came to a crushing end after another display of the sort which saw them top Group E.
However they could not claim one bigger European scalp in the shape of the 2018 finalists and go home in the second round, as they did four years ago.
“The players showed us the future, a new era of Japanese football,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said.
“We beat Germany, we beat Spain… If we take confidence in that, and if we think about overtaking these teams rather than just catching up, the future is bright.”