The score was locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes in the first game at the tournament that went beyond 90 minutes.
Doha, Qatar: In a tied match, Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three of four penalties in a dramatic shoot-out as the 2018 finalists ended Japans’ stunning run at the Qatar World Cup on Monday 3-1 for a place in the quarter-finals, a report in the Qatar Tribune says.
Livakovic saved the first two spot kicks from Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma, and, after being beaten by Takuma Asano, also from captain Maya Yoshida.
That allowed Mario Pasalic to clinch matters for Croatia, after Nikola Vlasic and Marcelo Brozovic converted while Marko Livaja was denied by the left post.
The score was locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes in the first game at the tournament that went beyond 90 minutes. Japan led from Daizen Maeda shortly before half-time as the Samurai Blue seemed on course towards another shock after beating former champions Germany and Spain 2-1 in the group stage, but Ivan Perisic headed a 55th-minute equaliser.
We’re a small country, but we have a big talent for football
In 1998, Croatia first made history as a new independent nation. A few years later, after the end of the War of Independence, Croatia qualified for the 1998 World Cup, their first appearance at the world’s greatest sporting event.
That World Cup in France became famous for Zinedine Zidane’s heroics in the final that stunned a star-studded Brazil team. But it was the stirring run to the semifinals from the Croatian team featuring Davor Suker and Zvonimir Boban that captivated the world.
Beating Germany then 3-0, with great players like Lothar Matthaeus, Juergen Klinsmann and Oliver Bierhoff’it was an unforgettable experience.
With just over four million people, Croatia keeps finding a way to punch above their weight in the biggest football tournament.
“I think we are a very talented sports nation. We are a small country, but we have a big talent pool for sports,” said Dario, a former Croatian footballer from that match-winning team against Germany in 1998.
But his son Zvonimir in the current Croatian team says “it’s the resilient nature of the Croats that helps the team overcome the biggest of obstacles on the big stage”.
“I believe it’s about our will and our commitment. We never give up and it’s not over until it’s over. So we always try to give our best no matter the circumstances. We stick together,” he said.
One shining example of that resilience is Luka Modric, the 37-year-old playmaker, who is pulling the strings for the team tirelessly in Qatar.“He is ageing like fine wine,” Zvonimir said.
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