Heartbreak for Japan as Croatia win penalty shootout to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Four years after their stunning World Cup run in Russia, Croatia are looking to do it all again. They knocked out Japan, 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Al Janoub Stadium, to move into the quarterfinals. They’ll face either Brazil or South Korea in a quarterfinal on Friday.

The Croatians did it by at least partially turning Japan’s favored script on its head, falling behind against the tournament’s upset artists just before half-time then levelling with a resounding header from Ivan Perisic early in the second half. Neither side could make a convincing claim for deserving the win in extra-time and Dominik Livakovic saved the first two Japanese penalties to give Croatia a hammerlock on the shootout. After another Livakovic save, Mario Pasalic blasted the final penalty past Shuichi Gonda and the Croatians poured on to the field as the Japanese dropped their heads.

Japan, the tournament’s consensus Cinderella after beating Germany and Spain in the group stage, went ahead just before the break with a close-range blast from Daizen Maeda and it felt like another upset could be in their hands. But after a first half in which they were often too casual in possession, Croatia was more precise after the interval and had the better chances as the game went on.

Japan had their moments — Kaoru Mitoma’s deflected shot in the first half of extra-time was hopeful — but ultimately couldn’t find another bit of late drama. When Takumi Minamino and Mitoma then missed from the spot, the final result felt inevitable.