Japan was eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after a close match that went to a penalty shootout.
Japan lost 1-3 in a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 in the first half and 90 minutes in the second half and 120 minutes until extra time in the round of 16 against Croatia held at the Alzanub Stadium in Doha, Qatar today (6th).
With this, Japan finished the schedule of this tournament without even crossing the threshold of the fourth World Cup round of 16 following 2002, 2010, and 2018.
Only two Asian Football Confederation (AFC) countries have reached the World Cup quarterfinals: North Korea in 1966 and South Korea in 2002.
The best World Cup result for a country belonging to the AFC is 4th place for Korea in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.
Croatia will face the winners of the upcoming match between South Korea and Brazil in the quarterfinals.
In the 43rd minute of the first half, from a corner kick situation, Ritsu Doan raised the ball with his left foot and Maya Yoshida put his foot in the penalty area.
However, in the 10th minute of the second half, Ivan Perisic headed the ball from Dejan Lovren of Croatia, and the game went back to square one.
It was a moment when Perisic, who scored two goals at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and three goals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, managed to score in three consecutive tournaments.
In the end, the match went to the first overtime of the tournament, but even after all 120 minutes, the team that advanced to the quarterfinals could not be determined, and the two teams went to a penalty shootout.
Croatia's goalkeeper Libaković saved Japan's number 1, 3 and 4 kickers Takumi Minamino, Mitoma and Yoshida in the penalty shoot-out, leading Croatia to the quarterfinals.
Croatia, the runner-up of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, won the round of 16 and quarterfinals in a penalty shootout, and also won the semifinal against England in overtime.