After England yesterday, it was Croatia's turn on Monday December 5 to shatter a dream.
The Croats overcame the valiant "Samurais Blue" from Japan, who fell with weapons in hand at the end of the penalty shootout.
Japan open the scoring
However, the Japanese had not trembled to clinch a historic place in the quarter-finals.
The Japanese enter the game better, more aggressive and determined than the Croats.
Taniguichi headed a warning shot that fled the frame (3').
Ivan Perisic responds with a curling shot that Gonda intercepts (7th).
The beginning of a beautiful Japanese domination, under the songs of its public which never ceased giving voice during the 90 minutes.
Ito and Nagatomo make their Croatian vis-à-vis dizzy on their sides.
The centers multiply but the Croatian block is in place and patiently leaves the game to their opponents.
However, the expectation is not passive: the Europeans are pressing their opponents who are struggling to find a recovery circuit.
It must be said that the Japanese are more used to playing without the ball than with it: during the group stage, they posted average possession of 32.3%, one of the lowest totals.
Inevitably, Croatia ends up bringing danger in front of the Japanese goal.
After a high recovery, Barisic places a cross from the left side.
Perisic extends with a header at the near post, then Kramaric is countered in extremis by the Japanese defense when he was about to resume at the far post (28th).
For the Samurai, the solution ultimately comes from a set piece.
On their fifth corner of the game, they try a fourth different combination.
This opens the Croatian safe.
Played in three stages, the center of Doan finds Yoshida who returns to Maeda who shoots Livakovic at close range (43rd, 1-0).
Perisic's record
Croatia reacts as soon as the locker room returns.
On a perfect cross from Lovren, Perisic beats Ito and Tomiyasu to adjust a superb cross header.
Gonda is beaten on his left (55, 1-1).
The 10th achievement of the Croatian in a World Cup, which makes it the top scorer in the history of the Croatian selection.
Luka Modric fails to give his side the advantage but Gonda says no (62nd).
Hajime Moriyasu multiplies the substitutions, aware that the strength of his team also comes from his bench: 75% of the goals during the 1st round were scored by the substitutes.
Under the impetus of Asano, Mitoma and Sakaï, the Blues resumed their colors but without finding the fault in the regulation time.
Croatia having experienced 7 extensions in their last eight major competition matches - only the final against France was an exception, it is logical that the honor goes to them for the first in this World Cup-2022.
Japan starts hostilities from a corner.
Taniguchi's uncrossed head escapes the frame (92nd).
The Japanese unite to intervene on the Croatian strikes (100th) in a game chopped up by the multiple faults whistled by the referee.
Japan lay siege to the cage of Livakovic who is impeccable to repel the heavy strike from Mitoma (105th).
But the two teams end up deciding on penalties.
And in this little risky game, it is finally Croatia that comes out the best, even in front of excited Japanese supporters.
Japan misses three of its four shots on goal and scuttles itself.
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