Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic became the hero of the Croatian team by saving three penalties against Japan (1-1, 3-1 in the shootout) to lead his team to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar-2022, this Monday in Al Janoub Stadium.
Goalkeeper Livakovic saved shots from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida to give his team the pass.
Earlier, in a vibrant match, Daizen Maeda had put the Asian team ahead (minute 43) and Ivan Perisic (55) equalized for the European team.
Croatia will face off in the quarterfinals with the winner of the match that will also be played this Monday by Brazil and South Korea (2:00 p.m.).
Two chameleonic teams, dynamic Japan and rocky Croatia, able to swap roles during the duel, put on an exciting show.
The Balkans will play the quarterfinals of a World Cup for the third time. Third in 1998, four years ago they were runners-up after surviving three overtimes along the way.
The Japanese team falls again in the round of 16, as in 2022, 2010 and 2018.
