Dominik Livakovic is a hero.
Thanks to his prowess during the penalty shootout - 3 saves - the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper allows Croatia to win after the suspense against Japan.
Reigning vice-world champions, Luka Modric's teammates continue their journey to the quarter-finals.
Sluggish against Morocco and Belgium (twice 0-0) in the group phase, reactive against Canada (4-1) then Japan, Croatia, without being brilliant, did not give up like the 2018 World Cup where she had survived two penalty shootouts (Denmark and Russia) then an extension (England) before stumbling in the final against France (4-2).
This Monday, they therefore emerged victorious from a trap match.
A sluggish success as their start to the match foreshadowed an easier qualification.
From the first minutes, the Croats indeed admire their technique by confiscating the ball.
After half an hour of play, Japan have only… 17% possession of the ball.
A rare statistic at this stage of the competition.
But Croatia fished in the last pass even though they came close to opening the scoring following an error by Tomiyasu.
The Japanese right side is stolen the ball by Perisic who rushes on the left side and hits hard in the tight angle.
Gonda intervenes but the ball then returns to Kramaric, stumbling over three opposing defenders (8').
After several alerts in front of the Japanese goal, the country of the rising sun wakes up at the end of the first act.
Kamada infiltrates the Croatian defense but his shot from the right does not find the target.
The second attempt is the right one.
On a corner played in three stages by the Japanese, Yoshida, at the far post, returns to Maeda who adjusts from the left and forces Livakovic (1-0, 43rd).
A goal at the best of times.
[📺LIVE] 🏆 #beINFWC2022 #JPNHRV
🇯🇵đź‡đź‡· Livakovic the hero!!!
🤩 The Croatian goalkeeper was celebrated by his teammates after three stops in the TAB session! https://t.co/1tLlCk1THP
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) December 5, 2022
However, Croatia reacted quickly when they returned from the locker room by equalizing with a superb header from 18m from Ivan Perisic after a precise cross from Lovren (1-1, 56th).
This is the 10th goal scored by Perisic in a major tournament (Euro or World Cup).
He is now ahead of Davor Suker, author of 9 achievements.
The game suddenly gets carried away.
On the engagement, a long shot from Endo is diverted with a tap brilliantly by Livkovic.
His counterpart Gonda imitated him a few minutes later on a half-volley from Luka Modric (63rd).
In overtime, Mitoma has the match point but Livakovic intervenes again (103rd).
A last shot from Rennais Majer, who replaced Modric, narrowly missed (120').
The two teams are unable to decide.
And it is therefore at the end of the penalty shootout that the Croats qualify for the quarter-finals where they will face Brazil or South Korea.
The Japanese are cursed.
4 years ago, Japan led 2-0 with just over 20 minutes remaining against Belgium in the round of 16 of the World Cup before cracking in the money time and losing (3- 2).
This Monday, they narrowly fail for the 4th time after 2002, 2010 and 2018. Terrible!
