Having advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals by defeating Japan on penalties on Monday, Croatia captain Luka Modric acknowledged that his team “can’t do it without a drama.”
At the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, the 2018 runners-up won the penalty shootout 3-1, with goalie Dominik Livakovic blocking three of Japan’s four attempts.
The match had earlier finished 1-1 in normal time, with Japan taking a first-half lead before Croatia equalised 10 minutes after the interval.
They will now face Brazil in the quarter-finals after the South Americans thrashed South Korea 4-1 in their last-16 match.
“It seems that we can’t do it without a drama,” said relieved Croatia captain Modric, who sat out the shoot-out after being substituted on 99 minutes.
“It was a very difficult game against a very tough team.
“We showed character when we came back from the deficit … [Livakovic] performed a miracle today. A very tough, exhausting match.”
CROATIA WIN THE FIRST PENALTY SHOOT-OUT OF THE WORLD CUP 🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/TyaI4DKDUG
— GOAL (@goal) December 5, 2022
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Croatia went behind moments before half-time when Celtic striker Daizen Maeda pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area. However, Japan were pegged back in the 55th minute by a stunning header from Ivan Perisic.
In the shoot-out, Livakovic saved Japan’s opening two spot-kicks, from Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma, before repelling their fourth, from opposition captain Maya Yoshida.
Croatian substitute Mario Pasalic scored the decisive penalty, rendering redundant Marko Livaja’s earlier miss from the spot.
The defeat represented Japan’s fourth from four World Cup last-16 matches; they have never before advanced to the tournament’s quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, six of Croatia’s past seven knockout games at major tournaments have gone to extra time – the only exception being the 2018 final.
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