Croatia displaces Japan on penalties

Croatian national team players celebrate their qualification to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, by defeating Japan with a penalty shootout 3-1 after the end of the original and extra time in a 1-1 draw at the “Al Janoub Stadium” in Al Wakrah yesterday (AFP)

Croatia qualified for the quarter-finals of the Qatar World Cup 2022 by defeating Japan with a penalty shootout 3-1 after the end of the original and extra time with a 1-1 draw, on Monday, at the “Al Janoub Stadium” in Al Wakrah, in the final price round. While the Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Levakovic, who saved three penalty kicks from the substitutes Takumi Minamino, Kauru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida, hit the Croatian Marco Levaya’s ball on the right post.

“This is a very important moment in my career,” Levakovic told BN Sports. The ambiance was great. I feel good and very happy. It was a demanding match and we prepared well for it.”

Daisen Maeda opened the scoring for Japan in the first half (43), before Ivan Perisic equalized for Croatia in the second (55).