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After beating Germany and Spain to top Group E, Japan now take on 2018 finalists Croatia on Monday at the Al Janoub Stadium, Qatar to try to reach the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time. Notably, Japan topped Group E with 6 points, while Croatia finished second in Group F courtesy of a win and two goalless draws. Japan, who defeated both Germany and Spain 2-1 — two former world champions — but also suffered a 1-0 loss against Costa Rica in the group stage, are appearing in the knockout stage for the fourth time and are searching for their first win as they suffered defeat in 2002, 2010 and 2018. However, given their current impressive form, not many will be surprised if Japan beat Croatia to make it to the quarterfinals. Croatia, on the other hand, aim to follow their footsteps of four years ago, when they reached the final of the 2018 World Cup before eventually losing to France. Croatia, who are 12 places higher than Japan in the FIFA world rankings, are undefeated in nine of their last 10 World Cup matches. Their last defeat in World Cup came in Russia four years ago when a Kylian Mbappé-inspired France secured a 4-2 win in the final. Talking about their head-to-head record, Japan and Croatia have faced each other thrice so far and both teams won a game each, while the remaining one ended in a draw. Read all the Latest News ****, Trending News ****, Cricket News ****, Bollywood News ****, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook ****, Twitter and Instagram ****.
FIFA World Cup 2022 Highlights: Croatia beat Japan 3-1 on penalties
FIFA World Cup: Check highlights of the Japan vs Croatia Round of 16 match.
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Heartbreak for Japan! They put up a show to remember in the FIFA World Cup 2022 but failed to make it to the quarters.
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
CROATIA INTO QUARTERS!!! Croatia beat Japan 3-1 on penalties to win the match and enter the last 8 round.
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Mario Pasalic scores | Japan 1-3 Croatia (Penalties)
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Maya Yoshida misses | Japan 1-2 Croatia (Penalties)
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Marko Livaja misses | Japan 1-2 Croatia (Penalties)
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Takuma Asano scores | Japan 1-2 Croatia (Penalties)
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Marcelo Brozovic scores | Japan 0-2 Croatia (Penalties)
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Kaoru Mitoma misses | Japan 0-1 Croatia (Penalties)
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Nikola Vlasic scores | Japan 0-1 Croatia (Penalties)
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
SAVED! Japan take the first penalty but Livakovic saves Minamino’s penalty as he dives low to his left!
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
End of the extra time and now the result will be decided through penalties.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
120’: There will be a minimum of four additional minutes.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
112’: SAVE! Japan keeper Gonda punches the ball to deny Croatia from taking the lead.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
The second half of the extra time is underway!
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
105’: End of the first half of extra time and scores are still leveled.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
105’: SAVE! Mitoma takes a powerful shot from the edge of the box but Croatia’s goalkeeper Livakovic makes a good save to deny Japan from taking the lead.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
99’: Double substitutions for Croatia as Lovro Majer replaces Luka Modric, while Nikola Vlasic comes in for Mateo Kovacic.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
97’: Fact of the day – Croatia have the best 100% record in the World Cup in games that have at least gone to extra time, progressing from all three such ties, all of which came in 2018.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Extra time underway!
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
90+4’: End of 90 minutes and the scores are still level which means that we are going to witness the first extra-time of the tournament.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
90’: There will be a minimum of four additional minutes.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
87’: Substitution for Japan! Takumi Minamino comes in place of Ritsu Dōan
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
78’: Ritsu Doan makes a solid challenge near his penalty area to earn a free-kick and stops the Croatian chance from the corner kick.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
75’: Sakai comes on for Kamada as Japan’s third change of the match.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
66’: MISSED! Kramaric sends in a good cross to Budimir, who heads the ball wide of the target from close range. Croatia miss the opportunity to take lead!
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
56’: GOALLLLLLL! Ivan Perisic scores an equaliser for Croatia with a brilliant header. Lovren sends a cross into the box and Perisic headed in the ball superbly away from the goalkeeper.
JAP 1:1 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
46’: Game resumes as Kamada gets the second half underway for Japan!
JAP 1:0 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Halftime: Referee blows the halftime whistle after two minutes of added time and it’s Japan who are deservingly leading after the brilliant opening 45 minutes of the game. Are we in for another surprising result tonight? We’ll find it in another hour or so.
JAP 1:0 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
44’: GOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! Daizen Meada gives the lead to Japan just before half-time. Japan take a short corner and Doan sends in a cross. Yoshida wins the initial header and Maeda reacts quickest to the knockdown! VAR check on for an offside. The goal stands.
JAP 1:0 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
30’: Croatia controlling the game now with their passing as Japan are struggling to win the ball back.
JAP 0:0 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
20’: Junyo Ito puts a good cross into the Croatia six-yard box but keeper Dominik Livakovic collects the ball comfortably.
JAP 0:0 CRO
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
13’: Another close chance for Japan as Ito from right wing sends in a low cross toward the front post. Maeda slides to put it in goal but missed the ball by whiskers.
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
9’: BIG MISS! A mistake from Tomiyasu puts Perisic in on goal. The winger takes his time before shooting but can’t beat Japan’s goalkeeper Gonda with his effort.
FIFA World Cup LIVE: Japan vs Croatia
Aggressive start by Japan as they came close to taking the a lead couple of times.