Croatia booked its place in the Qatar World Cup 2022 quarter-finals after beating Japan on penalties 1-1 (3-1) in the round of 16 on Monday. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic's historic heroics grabs the headlines, while Japan's spirit wins hearts of football fans.
Croatia eliminated giant killers Japan in a penalty shootout 1-1 (3-1) on Monday in their round of 16 clash after the first match went to extra-time at this Qatar World Cup 2022. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero for Zlatko Dalic's side as he saved three of Japan's four penalties in the shootout, ensuring the 2018 runners-up enter the quarter-finals of the showpiece event.
🇭🇷 Croatia's hero 🇭🇷
A hat-trick of penalty saves! 👏 | pic.twitter.com/8MKDVEFhWy
When Ivan Perisic stole the ball from Takehiro Tomiyasu at the corner of the box, Croatia was almost ahead. However, Perisic took too long to release the shot and ended up shooting from a tight angle, which rebounded into a goalmouth scramble and ultimately resulted in nothing. Junya Ito whipped in a dangerous cross as Japan's response, but neither Daizen Maeda nor Yuto Nagatomo was able to get on the end of it inside the box.
As halftime drew near, Japan really began to find their footing, creating several chances to score but falling just short of the decisive goal to put them in front. Then, from a corner, Maeda finally broke through with a left-footed finish.
Following the break, Croatia controlled the ball for the most part before Perisic, seemingly out of nowhere, headed in a cross from Dejan Lovren to tie the score.
After swiftly tying the game, veteran Luka Modri blasted a stunning strike from a distance that goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda narrowly missed tipping over the bar.
However, neither team was able to break the deadlock, and after normal time ended with a score of 1-1, the game entered extra time for the first time in this competition.
After a tentative first session, Kaoru Mitoma went on his own and launched a long shot to sting Livakovic's gloves. Up until Lovro Majer's wide-open shot in the final seconds of the second period of extra time, neither team had a clear-cut opportunity. As a result, penalties were called.
Japan took the first penalty shoot. Takumi Minamino's attempt was saved comfortably by Livakovic. Croatia then converted their first penalty as Nikola Vlasic comfortably placed the ball in the net. Kaoru Mitoma then failed to hit the target as the situation grew tense for Japan. Croatia's Marcelo Brozovic scored a perfect goal from the penalty spot to give his side their second goal. After two failed attempts, Japan finally hit the target and got their first goal of the penalties. Takuma Asano brilliantly unleashed the ball into the right post. After Marko Livaja casually hit the post with a side-footed shot, Maya Yoshida then made Japan's third error. Mario Pasalic's attempt from Croatia's fourth penalty earned them a spot in the quarter-final. The 2018 runners-up will not face the winner of South Korea vs Brazil clash.
Croatia go through to the Quarter-finals on penalties! 🇭🇷 |
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup)Croatian goalie and man of the match Dominik Livakovic is now the third goalkeeper to make three saves in a single World Cup penalty shootout after Portugal's Ricardo in 2006 versus England and Croatia's Danijel Subasic versus Denmark in 2018.
🇯🇵 Their story ends here, but what a journey they've had!
Thanks for adding some new special moments ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sfAudiBrw7
"So close to a major upset! Japan took Croatia all the way to penalties but a hattrick of penalty stops makes Livakovic the hero!" noted one user on Twitter, while another added, "The agony and the ecstasy of World Cup football. So joyous for the remarkable footballing nation that is Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, take a bow. So cruel for the equally remarkable sporting nation of Japan. They played their heart out in this match. What a spectacle it's been."
Here's a look at how football enthusiasts lauded Livakovic's heroics and Japan's spirited show at Qatar World Cup 2022:
So close to a major upset! Japan took Croatia all the way to penalties but a hattrick of penalty stops makes Livakovic the hero! 🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/1XUIkHxvug
— Transfermarkt.co.uk (@TMuk_news)The agony and the ecstacy of World Cup football. So joyous for the remarkable footballing nation that is Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, take a bow.
So cruel for the equally remarkable sporting nation of Japan. They played their heart out in this match.
What a spectacle it's been.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic had a 35% save success rate from penalties before facing Japan tonight 😳 pic.twitter.com/IVd9aCgjwh
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh)Asian powers out of the World Cup 🥲💔
Appreciation for Dominik Livaković saved three of Japan's four penalties. Clutch 🧱 pic.twitter.com/3fqrVcxHMp
Livakovic pic.twitter.com/63nUcgQjAk
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball)🚨🚨 WHAT A HEROIC PERFORMANCE THAT WAS FROM DOMINIK LIVAKOVIC! 😍🧤 🇭🇷🇭🇷
The Croatian Superman Made THREE SAVES in The Penalty Shootout to WIN The Game for Croatia. 🧤
Livaković Made Sure This wasn't going to be Modric's Last Ever World Cup Game. 🥹❤️
WHAT A PERFORMANCE! 🫡🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/37ZQfThXWR
Dominik Livakovic, Take A Bow Man! 🔥🔥🔥
When Japan reached the penalty round, I knew Japan would lose it. Croatia is really good in penalty shootouts. Congrats Croatia and better luck next time Japan! It was a great game. pic.twitter.com/jo9x6tqu9r
What a campaign for the Samurai blue. Keep your heads up. Livakovic showing empathy for a team that fought till the last moment: pic.twitter.com/R5MFFOyQ9F
— The Football Index 🎙 ⚽ (@TheFootballInd)Dominik Livaković was the Croatia hero with three penalty saves from four kicks faced. pic.twitter.com/SU90JzNqCS
— Football24/7 (@foet247europa)Croatia is steadily rewriting history 🇭🇷
Great performance from livakovic 🧤👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/S1a25W4TY5
Hats off to the Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic. Rising to the moment is what champions do.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63)🇭🇷 Croatia's Hero 🇭🇷. Livakovic 💥
He saved three penalties against Japan and helped Croatia to reach the quarter final. Take a bow 🙌. Congratulations 🎉.
pic.twitter.com/wOJekeCOgm
Phewww!!!! through on penalties….Livakovic exceptional in shoot-out…commiserations to you did urselves proud.xmb
— Mark Bosnich (@TheRealBozza)Deja vu: 's Round of 16 heroes! 💪
2⃣0⃣1⃣8⃣🆚🇩🇰 Danijel Subašić
2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣🆚🇯🇵 Dominik Livaković ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZtSyRCmLxC
You've got to feel bad for Japan, having played wonderfully well to reach this stage and then falter on penalties!
The real hero is Livakovic, whose golden hands saved 3 penalties and helped Croatia enter the quarters 👍🏻. The guy would not miss a pin if kicked at him today 😄. pic.twitter.com/DnO3cwyxRa