CROATIA 1-1 JAPAN -
DIRECT
GOAL!
JAPAN-Croatia 1-1.
Daizen Maeda Network.
On the developments of a corner kick, Yoshida's side and his partner, with a lightning turn in front of goal, beat Livakovic.
Goal by Ivan Perišić,
who with a perfect header from Lovren's kissing cross leaves no way out for Gonda.
We go to extra time.
Eve
Japan-Croatia, anything can happen. Japanese with Samurai spitito. Dalic "It will be fight to the end"
The revelation Japan challenges the vice world champions Croatia and to do so it relies on the spirit of the samurai: on the field "with courage" with the ambitious goal of reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Japan was one of the great surprises of this World Cup, with incredible and unexpected victories in the group stage against giants such as Spain and Germany to win their group;
2018 World Cup finalists Croatia progressed to the last 16 as runners-up.
"It will be a great opportunity to show everyone that we can play like Samurai - said Yuto Nagatomo in the press conference on the eve -. If they are scared in battle, then they will not be able to use their weapons and their techniques. football is the same
if we are afraid when we take the field, our qualities and tactics will be useless.
We have to play bravely.
I often mention the samurai, who are quite famous in the world.
We want to fight like the samurai". The Japanese coach, Hajime Moriyasu, knows Croatia's value well: "They have several good players, they finished second in the last World Cup.
Tomorrow we will try to win, but at the same time we have a lot of respect for the Croatian team.
They can adapt to different types of game.
They are very tenacious.
We are fine, we expect a difficult game.
We will have to be more aggressive compared to the matches against Spain and Germany". The Croatia coach, Zlatko Dalic, wants to close the Japan case in regular time. "We will try to resolve it in the 90 minutes,
but I know we are up against a tough opponent who never gives up.
If extra time and penalties are needed we are ready - Dalic's words - We will face a tough opponent who never gives up.
We won't give up either.
It will be a fight until the end". We respect our opponents - he continues - they beat two world champion teams in Spain and Germany. They were down in the first half and showed character, mentality and quality. We will not underestimate anyone. They will play like the samurai , we will have the same attitude. The field will then decide who is better".
When asked if Modric will leave the national team after the World Cup, Dalic replies: "May God give him health, so he will continue. I'm sure this won't be his last international competition with Croatia.
