It was sheer heart-break for the Japan football team and the traveling Japanese fans in Qatar in the FIFA World Cup 2022. The Asian team played fearlessly all-throughout the match but succumbed in the dying moments of the match; during the crucial penalty stage.
The match between Japan and Croatia at the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2022 ended in a stale-mate 1-1. But since this is a knock-out round, the match went into the penalties. Japan missed its first two shots and that’s where they lost the plot.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic kept his calm and composure as they saved 2 crucial penalties for his side. The game turned in favor of Croatia with those two saves.
Even though Croatia missed one shot, it did not matter as Japan missed another shot. Croatia made sure they have 3 hits and powered themselves to the quarter-finals of the ongoing World Cup.
Daizen Maeda had opened the goal-scoring account for Japan during regulation time. This put Japan in the driving seat of the game. But Croatia staged a good comeback and Ivan Perisic netted a goal in the 55th minute to draw level with the Asian side.
Croatia has a 100% win record in penalties in the FIFA World Cup
After the two teams could not be separated with the normal match-time and extra-time, the action shifted to the penalties. With this penalty shoot-out win, Croatia maintained their 100%-win record in the penalties in the FIFA World Cup. Japan on the other hand now have lost 2 penalties in their history of the FIFA World Cup.
Croatia will now face the winner of Brazil vs South Korea in the quarter finals of the ongoing marquee event in Qatar. The match will be taking place on 9th December and is slated to begin from 8:30 PM (IST). It will be played at the Education City Stadium in Ar-Rayyan.
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Oliver Giroud Becomes France’s All-time Leading Goal Scorer
